Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales and Matthew Broderick. Written by Gene Stupnitsky and Joan Phillips. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky. Budget $45 million. Running time 103 minutes.
No Hard Feelings sees Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) a 30 something Uber-driver without a car struggling to pay the property tax on her home or risk losing it. When she spots an advert on Craigslist for someone to 'date' their 19 year-old son in return for a car she jumps at the chance and so begins a typically cinematic romance that only exists in the movies. The boys parents, (Brodderick and Benanti) ask Maddie to 'DATE' their son's brains out and to bring him out of his shell prior to his starting his college life at Princeton.
Maddie contrives to meet the young man, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) at the local animal shelter where he volunteers and so begins the unlikely love affair. Naturally, the much older, way-of-the-world Maddie goes for the jugular, while Percy, a deeply sensitive and lonely soul is totally overwhelmed by her brash approach and so begins their romantic adventure.
From then on this film follows the structure and rules of the RomCom to the 'T', with the obligatory 2nd Act breakup and the 3rd act redemption. Jennifer shows off her comedic chops to good effect and Feldman brings the nerdy sensitive emotional beats and both characters teach the other about important aspects of life, cos both are carrying a lot of emotional baggage.
Sadly with most modern comedies, if you've seen the trailer you've seen all the funny bits, and whereas this is a mostly amusing film, it's not down right hilarious and you'll silently smile more than you'll roar with laughter. Sure there are some raunchy moments but this never truly lets rip. Except for one very fascinating scene which involves full frontal nudity and Jennifer Lawrence getting into a full-flown fist fight on the beach butt-naked.
Along the way, Jennifer discovers how 'old' she is compared to Percy's contemporaries and gatecrashes a couple of parties, where she learns a few home truths about her way of life, while Percy learns the meaning of real friendship and of living a little.
It's not the funniest film ever made, it's good natured and while it's on, utterly inoffensive, and beyond that it has nothing more to offer and the jokes are fine.
6/10
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