This movie is a classic example of focusing on the wrong thing in marketing. I feel as if this movie were to come out thirteen years ago and had been marketed the exact same way, it would’ve gotten everyone’s attention for the right reasons. In today’s climate, this movie’s marketing did more harm than good because this movie is surprisingly good. Sure, there are flaws in the script, but the pacing is surprisingly well handled throughout most of the film. What’s interesting is that once you watch the film, you realize that the “kid in question” isn’t a kid at all, he’s 19 going on 20, so it’s definitely not really that weird. In fact, I’ve also talked to people a few years younger than me (27 and 21—6 years, not bad, still was weird though; didn’t last), so it’s really not as bizarre considering that a lot of couples really do have significant age differences. The movie even makes it a point that Percy is indeed an adult and needs to start acting like an adult.
What is interesting is the fact that I related with BOTH Jennifer Lawrence’s and Andrew Barth Feldman’s respective characters. As someone who is 27 and has personal trauma I am dealing with, I could relate with the fears and realizations that I am getting older and doing very little to get what I really want in life. On the flip side, I related to Percy’s struggle to connect with people, find meaningful relationships past sex, and learning the difference between romantic love and true companionship/friendship love.
By the end of the film, you realize this movie isn’t a traditional rom-com of old, no. This is a rom-com for today’s generation even ending the way that, I think, is absolutely necessary for everyone to see, because romanticized fairytales, simply don’t fit in today’s day and age with how much stress and trauma with which our generation was left with from the Baby Boomers and first two rounds of Millennials have left food all of us to handle. No Hard Feelings isn’t the best comedy of the year, but I think it’s a necessary one to get us back into that road of somewhat raunchy and unashamedly hilarious comedy movies that we all were so thirsty (pun intended) for during this superhero-monopolized Hollywood era.
Surprisingly, I didn’t think I would enjoy this movie at all or as much as I did. Perhaps, my expectations were low. The script, yeah, repeats cliches you’ve seen before, but Ifound it more nostalgic than cliche. It’s even more surprising that I would actually recommend this movie if you enjoy raunchy comedies. It’s not even that bad considering other movies that go WAY over the top.
Despite my friend and everyone wanting to give it I give No Hard Feelings an 8.