No Hard Feelings Movie Review

No Hard Feelings (2023)

Rent No Hard Feelings on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Gene Stupnitsky & John Phillips
Directed by: Gene Stupnitsky
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Hasan Minhaj
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
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.

Verdict
This has its moments, but it's predictable and generic. It starts of well enough. The movie isn't trying to create anything new, but it seemed like a solid entry in the sex comedy genre. This embraces the ridiculously awkward which becomes funny past a certain point. Despite the start, the lack of aspiration and middling conclusion caused my interest to wane.
Skip it.

Review
In the first scene Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is getting her car repossessed and hustling her old boyfriend who happens to be the two truck driver. Maddie needs a job and a car. That's when she finds an ad to date a teenager and get a Buick Regal. She quickly decides she needs a car now. Percy's (Andrew Barth Feldman) parents are concerned about his introversion and lack of worldly knowledge, hoping Maddie will be the answer.

Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman play Maddie, Percy

Maddie tries her best to get Percy's attention but he's oblivious. This is going to be a lot more work than she anticipated. Not long after their first interaction he thinks she is kidnapping him. Despite her best efforts to flirt, it's not working. These situations are so silly and awkward it becomes funny. It's clear where this is going. She'll be won over by him, they'll becomes friend, and make each other better in the process. That's not necessarily a bad thing if the movie can make those moments resonate emotionally.

The piano scene in the restaurant is impressive. It's a callback that finally provides that connection between them. It's also that moment that Percy overcomes his reservedness. Maddie instantly becomes jealous that other people have taken an interest in Percy.

With such a predictable formula I was hoping this would do something more with the conclusion. It doesn't have to upturn the plot, but this starts well enough and the lack of aspiration became more apparent and my interest began to wane. The comedy disappears once they have an emotional connection, and I really hoped the movie could balance emotion and drama.