No Hard Feelings
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On the brink of losing her childhood home, Maddie discovers an intriguing job listing: wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, Percy, before he leaves for college. To her surprise, Maddie soon discovers the awkward Percy is no sure thing.
What critics thought
A mixed-bag raunch comedy that critics found more enjoyable than the premise might suggest, largely on the strength of Jennifer Lawrence's physical comedy and willingness to commit fully to the material. The film drew real controversy before release over its grooming-adjacent setup, and critics disagreed on whether it handles those uncomfortable dynamics with enough self-awareness or simply coasts on Lawrence's charm while playing it safer than it should.
“Like the Risky Business copycats and hot-girl-meets-dweeby-dude romantic comedies that thrived in the aughts and early 2010s, No Hard Feelings offers some insight into the role that sex plays in the coming-of-age process, and how a perceived pressure to lose your virginity by some arbitrary deadline can remain a cross-generational burden.”
Shirley Li·The Atlantic
“There's more to each of these characters than meets the eye. Stupnitsky dials down the intensity of the first act—with its sharp comedic timing and energetic slapstick—to make way for sweeter moments with Maddie and Percy.”
Lovia Gyarkye·The Hollywood Reporter
“Maddie is frequently confronted by the generational gap between her and Percy's peers, but her immaturity means she also often seems childlike by comparison.”
Sophie Butcher·Empire
“take a moment to think about if this film would be made if the genders were reversed. Can you imagine pitching a film where a 32-year old man was paid to groom and coerce a 19-year-old woman into having sex that she doesn't want to have? No one would make that movie. But it's presented as funny and quirky when a grown woman does the manipulating.”
Carmella D'Acquisto·Bust
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Gene StupnitskyDirector
Jennifer LawrenceMaddie Barker
Andrew Barth FeldmanPercy Becker
Laura BenantiAllison Becker
Natalie MoralesSara
Matthew BroderickLaird Becker
Scott MacArthurJim
Ebon Moss-BachrachGary
Kyle MooneyJody
Hasan MinhajDoug Khan
Jordan MendozaCrispin
Amalia YooNatalie
Alysia Joy PowellFern
Mychael DannaComposer
John PhillipsWriter
Eigil BryldCinematographyNo Hard Feelings
On the brink of losing her childhood home, Maddie discovers an intriguing job listing: wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, Percy, before he leaves for college. To her surprise, Maddie soon discovers the awkward Percy is no sure thing.
What critics thought
A mixed-bag raunch comedy that critics found more enjoyable than the premise might suggest, largely on the strength of Jennifer Lawrence's physical comedy and willingness to commit fully to the material. The film drew real controversy before release over its grooming-adjacent setup, and critics disagreed on whether it handles those uncomfortable dynamics with enough self-awareness or simply coasts on Lawrence's charm while playing it safer than it should.
“Like the Risky Business copycats and hot-girl-meets-dweeby-dude romantic comedies that thrived in the aughts and early 2010s, No Hard Feelings offers some insight into the role that sex plays in the coming-of-age process, and how a perceived pressure to lose your virginity by some arbitrary deadline can remain a cross-generational burden.”
Shirley Li·The Atlantic
“There's more to each of these characters than meets the eye. Stupnitsky dials down the intensity of the first act—with its sharp comedic timing and energetic slapstick—to make way for sweeter moments with Maddie and Percy.”
Lovia Gyarkye·The Hollywood Reporter
“Maddie is frequently confronted by the generational gap between her and Percy's peers, but her immaturity means she also often seems childlike by comparison.”
Sophie Butcher·Empire
“take a moment to think about if this film would be made if the genders were reversed. Can you imagine pitching a film where a 32-year old man was paid to groom and coerce a 19-year-old woman into having sex that she doesn't want to have? No one would make that movie. But it's presented as funny and quirky when a grown woman does the manipulating.”
Carmella D'Acquisto·Bust
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Gene StupnitskyDirectorJennifer LawrenceMaddie BarkerAndrew Barth FeldmanPercy BeckerLaura BenantiAllison BeckerNatalie MoralesSaraMatthew BroderickLaird BeckerScott MacArthurJimEbon Moss-BachrachGaryKyle MooneyJodyHasan MinhajDoug KhanJordan MendozaCrispinAmalia YooNatalieAlysia Joy PowellFernMychael DannaComposerJohn PhillipsWriterEigil BryldCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy