The Stream: Predictable plot.

The Big Screen: Hilarious Jennifer Lawrence performance.

The Final Bill: Despite a predictable story, the movie is consistently funny and surprisingly sweet.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Gene Stupnitsky
Writers: Gene Stupnitsky and John Phillips
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R for sexual content, language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Production Companies: Excellent Cadaver, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment
Platform: In theater June 23, 2023
Notable Trailers: Drive-Away Dolls, Dumb Money, Meg 2: The Trench, Insidious: The Red Door

Hey, Streamers! If you are looking for something to tickle your funny bone, the new release this weekend is No Hard Feelings. It’s a rated-R comedy from the folks that brought you Good Boys a few years ago. It’s the beginning of the summer, so who doesn’t want just a good time at the theater- am I right? Here’s whether this movie brings the laughs.

In No Hard Feelings, Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is down on her luck. Her car is being repossessed for non-payment of property taxes, and her mother’s house is next on the chopping block. Maddie can barely afford to live in Montauk as it’s being overtaken by rich tourists each summer. In order to earn the funds she needs to save her house, Maddie answers an ad on Craigslist posted by some rich parents (Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti) to “date” their 19-year-old son before he goes off to college. Once hired by the parents, Maddie throws herself into the task of seducing this young man, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), to get a car that will help her raise money she needs to save her mother’s house. Desperately cringey hijinks ensue.

The plot of No Hard Feelings is so basic that you know exactly what will happen before walking into the movie. Additionally, the screenplay lays on the stakes for Maddie pretty thick. I can’t count how many times saving her mother’s house and property taxes is mentioned throughout this film. It’s not annoying, but it definitely is overdone. We get it! She’s desperate. Her motivation is clear and Percy is 19-years-old so this is not creepy. Calm down!

The best thing the filmmakers did with this otherwise basic movie was cast Jennifer Lawrence and let her run wild. I don’t know if I’ve seen Lawrence in this kind of comedy before, but it suits her. She is able to find a good balance between the broad comedy and the tender sweet relationship she develops with Percy. She looks great throughout. Moreover, Jennifer Lawrence just has a natural gift for physical comedy and such a brash delivery of lines that is very funny. I’d definitely see her in more of these raucous comedies.

Also, Andrew Barth Feldman does well in his scenes with Lawrence. Their relationship is sweet and funny. Feldman also gets a standout musical sequence. He’s one to watch out for.

Ultimately, No Hard Feelings delivers both comedy and heart. Even though you know where this movie is going, the jokes are top-notch and come consistently. Jennifer Lawrence is very good at physical comedy and has nice chemistry with Andrew Barth Feldman. You’ll have a good time at this movie, so pick up a big box of popcorn.