No Hard Feelings - A Movie Review

Don’t you think we should get to know each other first?

No Hard Feelings is a 2023 film. Desperate for a car. 32-year-old Maddie answers an ad in the newspaper about two parents who want someone to date their 19-year-old son before he attends Princeton University in the fall. Things are awkward at first until Maddie and Percy make a connection.

“No way,” I said when I watched the trailer for No Hard Feelings. I did not want to watch a raunchy comedy that displayed a forced underage relationship. After reading reviews that remarked highly about the story, I took a chance, and surprisingly No Hard Feelings had unexpected depth and includes a relatable lesson for all audiences.

Jennifer Lawrence showed no modesty as Maddie, a young woman who is not afraid to make a move. However, she is reserved and scared about growing up. Lawrence was hilarious in all of her scenes even committing two days to filming a fight scene on the beach - naked.

Most of Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman’s interactions were improvised. As Percy, a nervous and reclusive 19-year-old with no friends, a sparse dating history, and doesn’t party, Feldman’s reactions were the best to Maddie’s attempts at seduction. He had funny responses. He led his character with the right authenticity to make a believable evolution.

While Maddie and Percy’s relationship is not an appropriate example of romance, they make a good point that couples need to connect before taking things too far. The chemistry between Lawrence and Feldman brings an engaging dynamic to the screen. It made their character’s evolution more believable.

No Hard Feelings has an ensemble of memorable characters. Laura Berneti and Matthew Broderick play Percy’s parents. Natalie Morales and Scott MacArthur were a hilarious pair as they bickered about little things. More credits include Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Hasen Minhaj, Jordan Mendoza, and Amalia Yoo.

I wish Jody’s (Kyle Mooney) part was expanded. Making a positive representation of a job that has earned some backlash regarding social norms, Jody would have added more to the story.

Thanks to Gene Stupnitsky’s direction, No Hard Feelings skillfully avoids the pitfall of exploiting a toxic underage relationship by exploring the complexities of Maddie and Percy’s interactions with sensitivity and maturity. This film could have easily ventured into inappropriate territory, but instead, uses the story to discuss coming-of-age themes.

Inspiration for No Hard Feelings was based on an actual ad like in the film. Writers did a great job with the story, including the challenges of growing up and searching for identity. This narrative allows the audience to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Looming adulthood is relatable to all audiences, no matter the age group.

No Hard Feelings is rated R for crude language, sexual innuendos, and nudity. Going into the film, I had reservations, expecting a raunchy comedy that would rely on offensive humor and exploit taboo topics such as adult-underaged relationships.

The jokes make not sit right with all audiences, but this movie is really funny. The comedic moments are well-timed and never detract from the serious themes at play. There was one moment when I couldn’t stop laughing in the theater and I had to try to stop myself, only to fail and start laughing again. Maddie’s naked fight is one of the funniest scenes in the movie.

Everyone will have a different opinion on No Hard Feelings and its material, so it’s up to you if you want to go see it. I ended up enjoying this film more than I thought I would. Take a chance and go see it.