It’s nice to see a straightforward, R-rated comedy on the big screen again, and it certainly helps that this one features an Academy Award winner.
That Oscar recipient is of course Jennifer Lawrence, who plays the character Maddie in “No Hard Feelings.” Short on cash and wanting to prevent her late mother’s house from being taken by the bank, Maddie is trying to make money as an Uber driver. Unfortunately, she wakes up one morning to see her car being repossessed.
Needing a new ride, she follows up on a Craigslist ad from two parents offering a car in return for dating their shy, awkward son Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), who’s going to Princeton in the fall. Maddie initially balks at the idea, but ends up going for it out of desperation. At first, she just reluctantly agrees, but as time goes on, Maddie starts bonding with Percy.
“No Hard Feelings” doesn’t reinvent the wheel. The story is of a person initially getting into something out of need or greed and eventually finding actual purpose in the situation isn’t uncommon. This movie has one of those stories and it goes on a fairly predictable path.
The execution, though, is rather good thanks to the writing team of Gene Stupnitsky (who also directs) and John Phillips, as well as the cast. There are a lot of jokes and gags that manage to produce laughs. They keep coming, too, as the core relationship on screen continues to develop and evolve.
Plus, jokes that are set up earlier often come back for a second punch later in the film. Again, this is with a familiar set-up, as much of the humor revolves around a standard odd-couple. There’s the shy, timid geek and the more confident, outgoing partner trying to pull them out of their shell.
This, too, is done quite nicely. Maddie’s character is written to be a fun slacker who’s willing to get her hands dirty to get what she needs, and it leads to quite a bit of humor. Her personality is a great foil for the more nervous Percy who isn’t as social.
As mentioned in the lede, the film also has the huge benefit of having Lawrence in the cast. The Oscar winner elevates the material and enhances all of Maddie’s characteristics, making the comedy hit harder. She raises the movie up from being a slightly above average comedy to a more memorable one.
It’s true, the material works, but it’s Lawrence that kicks it up another gear. There’s also the fact that she even makes the emotional scenes work. Often in comedies there can be moments where the characters are feeling down, and they don’t always seem entirely convincing. But Lawrence certainly sells her character’s angst when needed.
Credit has to go to Feldman as well, though, as the actor certainly carries his own weight in the film. He portrays Percy’s naïveté and awkwardness with good authenticity, without the character seeming too pathetic or dorky in an over-the-top way. He has a good comedic chemistry with Lawrence, too.
“No Hard Feelings” isn’t an all time great in the comedy genre but it has it where it counts. It’s a funny traditional summer studio comedy that earns its R with some raunch and wild moments featuring an award caliber performer. 3.7 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 
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