No Hard Feelings movie review - Aussieboyreviews

DOES NO HARD FEELINGS KNOW HOW TO AROUSE YOUR FEELINGS?

This raunchy comedy featuring Jeniffer Lawrence and creepy fake-dating knows how to build an emotional connection, but it’s not at all surprising. It’s entertaining, pleasant and sweet, although it often makes you question what you’re doing watching it.

Storyline

A desperate woman on the brink of losing her childhood home decides to take on an odd job listing, in which she agrees to date a wealthy couple’s 19-year-old introverted son to bring him out of his shell before he goes to college. She has one summer to make him a man, or lose everything.

Movie Images

Movie details

Director: Gene Stupnitsky
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales
Writer: Gene Stupnitsky, John Phillips
Release Date (Australia): 22 June 2023
Runtime: 103 minutes/1h 43m
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Language: English

CONTENT GUIDE (warning: May contain spoilers)

Themes (M)

The film contains sexual themes, crude humour and references to bullying.

Violence (M)

The film contains bloody violence depicted in a video game, as well as a comedic fight scene involving punches, shoves and slaps.

Coarse Language (MA15+)

The film contains one use of the word “c**ts”, as well as frequent use of the words “f**k”, “s**t”, “ass”, “bitch” and “d**k”.

Drug Use (PG)

The film contains several verbal references to cocaine and brief depictions of marijuana smoking.

Nudity (MA15+)

The film contains a lengthy fight scene featuring full frontal female nudity.

Sex (MA15+)

The film contains crude sexual humour, including references to sexual acts, masturbation and ejaculation, as well as a scene of implied sexual activity.

mpaa rating

R (for sexual content, language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use)

Aussie boy's thoughts

Entertaining but usually pretty forgettable, don’t put No Hard Feelings at the top of your sex comedy list. Apparently, this is supposed to be a funny sex comedy that feels like it was written around the times of American Pie, and lovers of that raunchy masterpiece will find enjoyment in No Hard Feelings. Yes, it’s a fun movie that does take you back to the raunchy times of American Pie and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but to say it’s up there with those movies or on the same level is just a complete insult.

In desperate need of money when she’s threatened with losing her childhood home, a young woman agrees to “date” the awkward teenage son of a wealthy couple to bring him out of his shell before he goes to college. You may be getting the wrong vibe based on the paragraph above, because this is still without a doubt an enjoyable time with plenty of moments to find yourself giggling with. It’s just not anything special or overly memorable.

Of course, this is not the fault of the cast; Jennifer Lawrence is absolutely hilarious and Andrew Barth Feldman pulls off his role as the socially awkward teenager very well. The film is very watchable, amusing and makes an attempt at being surprisingly touching, although that falls flat towards the end. It’s directed just like a romantic sex comedy should be and jokes are sprinkled throughout. It’s just that whilst some of the jokes land really well, there’s others that just don’t achieve the same effect. If you’re expecting it to be as moving or optimistic as American Pie or other related comedies, you’ll probably feel a bit let down.

The best way to put it is that if you’ve seen other raunchy comedies released around the 2000s or shortly after, you’ll just need to watch this movie’s trailer and you’ll know what to expect. It almost feels as if it were written in the 2000s but executed 20 years later with updated lifestyle elements. There’s shock humour, sex references, and scenes like the beach fight scene that just make you ask yourself what you’re doing even watching it. But in the end, it’s pretty much just everything you anticipated, and whilst that’s not necessarily a bad thing, some might not enjoy it for that reason. If you think it’s the flick for you, and if you can get over the fact that this 19-year-old barely looks a day over 13, then have fun.

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