Jonathan Sim
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What would you do for a free car?
Jennifer Lawrence produces and stars in No Hard Feelings, a sex comedy where she portrays Maddie, a young Uber driver facing bankruptcy. After spotting their Craigslist ad, she agrees to date a married couple’s son in exchange for Buick Regal.
Believe it or not, No Hard Feelings is based on a real Craigslist ad. Little did the posters know they’d inadvertently created one of the funniest comedies of the decade with their offer. This is an excellent throwback to sex comedies of the 2000s — something we don’t see that often anymore.
It’s directed by Gene Stupnitsky, who previously helmed Good Boys and penned some standout episodes of The Office. He proves himself a gifted and adept comedic director here. Straightforward raunchy comedies are hard to come in the 2020s, with the Judd Apatow style of filmmaking not too en vogue these days. However, this movie feels along the lines of classics like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up.
No Hard Feelings takes Jennifer Lawrence’s sex appeal and plays it for laughs. The movie pits her against nineteen-year-old Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), an awkward young man about to go off to college. It’s funny to watch a beautiful woman in her 30s attempt to flirt with an awkward teen boy. It’s even funnier to see him reject her advances — completely immune to her charms. The antics that arise from Maddie’s repeated failed attempts to be Percy’s sexual fantasy are some of the film’s brightest moments.
Lawrence is a delight here, and fully committed to the bit. Her career has primarily seen her take on serious projects like The Hunger Games, Mother!, and last year’s Causeway. Because of that, her ample comedic talents haven’t gotten much time to shine. She’s hilarious here, and doesn’t miss a beat.
Feldman matches her energy as a lovably shy sort of guy. He’s believable as a naïve Melvin who’s confused by Maddie at first, but ultimately opens up to the idea of a relationship with her. Despite not being a love story, there is a rom-com approach to this that feels sweet.
There’s also a surprising amount of soul at the center of this movie. The characters are well-developed, and have strong chemistry with each other. Although the characterization is appreciated, No Hard Feelings can feel uneven as a result, with some scenes not landing as well as others and most of the funniest parts given away in the trailer.
However, the movie remains a comedic triumph. An R-rated theatrically released comedy is a rare beast, after all. And while this film might be too bawdy for some, and it isn’t quite as strong as Stupnitsky’s other work, it’s a sterling example of sex comedy gone right.
SCORE: 7/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our No Hard Feelings review.