[FILM REVIEW] NO HARD FEELINGS Review (2023)
Summary: On the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.
Year: 2023
Cinema Release Dates: 22nd June 2023 (Australia), 11th July 2023 (Thailand), TBA (UK), 23rd June 2023 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA
Director: Gene Stupnitsky
Screenwriter: Gene Stupnitsky, John Phillips
Cast: Laura Benanti (Allison Becker), Andrew Barth Feldman (Percy Becker), Matthew Broderick (Laird Becker), Quincy Dunn-Baker (Travis), Jennifer Lawrence (Maddie Barker), Melissa Lehman (Kelly), Scott MacArthur (Jim), Zahn McClarnon (Gabe Sawyer, Surfing Lawyer), Jordan Mendoza (Crispin), Hasan Minhaj (Doug Khan), Kyle Mooney (Jody), Natalie Morales (Sara), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Gary), Madison Odenborg (Melanie), Alisa Joy Powell (Fern), Alex Tomais (Inez), Amalia Yoo (Natalie)
Running Time: 103 mins
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), TBC (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)
OUR NO HARD FEELINGS REVIEWS
Dave Griffiths and Lee Griffiths’ No Hard Feelings Review
David’s rating Out Of 5
Lee’s rating Out Of 5
Alex First’s No Hard Feelings Review
In the vein of Bridesmaids, No Hard Feelings is a coming-of-age comedy that capitalises on the awkward.
Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 32-year-old whose life doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
When her mother died, she left Maddie the house (dad is not on the scene), but Maddie is struggling to pay the bills and appears scared of commitment.
In fact, her ex-boyfriend – in doing his job – has just come and repossessed her car, which makes getting around and going to work difficult for Maddie.
Then, her best friend, Sara (Natalie Morales), spots an unusual ad on an app.
A wealthy couple – Allison (Laura Benanti) and Laird (Matthew Broderick) – is
offering a used car in exchange for educating their son in the ways of the world.
They are looking for someone who can bring their 19-year-old virgin son Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) – whose social skills are wanting – out of his shell.
As Percy has been accepted into Princeton, they want him to be prepared for college.
While Allison and Laird advertised for someone in their early to mid ‘20s, Maddie – who is desperate for vehicular transport – convinces them that she is the right fit.
Not surprisingly, Allison and Laird don’t want Percy to find out what they are up to.
Unlike Percy – who works in an animal shelter – Maddie is far from shy and sets about her task with gusto.
Percy is shell-shocked and doesn’t know what to make of, or how to handle, Maddie’s advances.
Many awkward, embarrassing and hilarious moments follow.
The two clearly have feelings for one another, but then the inevitable happens and they are left to try to pick their way through the mess.
Written by John Phillips (Dirty Grandpa) and director Gene Stupnitsky (who co-wrote and directed Good Boys), No Hard Feelings is an enjoyable romp.
The pair has crafted a pleasurable low-brow script, in which the sexual humour is palpable, but there is also warmth.
The often-pointed language used is what gives the movie its bite and spice – of course aided by the performances.
Lawrence shows how adaptable she is as an actor, with a standout comedic turn.
Andrew Barth Feldman proves her suitable antithesis as the intelligent, nerdish “kid” who has his eyes opened.
There is also joy in watching Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti as helicopter parents.
Among the film’s other highlights is watching Natalie Morales and Scott MacArthur, who plays Allison’s husband Jim, interact. Theirs is a love/hate relationship.
I also appreciated the work of cinematographer Eigil Bryld (In Bruges). No Hard Feelings ticks many of the right boxes and deserves box office success.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Kyle McGrath and Harley Woods’s No Hard Feelings Review
Harley’s rating Out Of 5
Kyle’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
Other No Hard Feelings Reviews:
Nil
Trailer: