Given her reputation for being goofy and funny in real life (especially a few years ago, with a collection of self-deprecating video interviews and making light of stumbling up the stairs at the Oscars), it’s surprising that more filmmakers don’t take advantage of Jennifer Lawrence‘s comedic abilities.
True, there was last year’s satire ‘Don’t Look Up’, but that was as part of a sprawling ensemble and was mostly focused on its apocalyptic activity.
Now, though, ‘Bad Teacher’ co-writer and ‘Good Boys’ co-writer/director Gene Stupnitsky is looking to channel the funnier side of the Oscar-winning actress for a new raunchy comedy called’ No Hard Feelings’.
Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie in director Gene Stupnitsky’s ‘No Hard Feelings.’
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What happens in ‘No Hard Feelings’?
In the movie, Lawrence plays Maddie, whose life is falling apart. She’s badly in debt, her car and other possessions are being seized and what’s worse, her beloved late mother’s house is under threat too.
Desperate to make some money –– she’d been driving for Uber, but that’s a little tough when you don’t have a car –– Maddie answers an add online by a couple of parents who are looking for someone to date their son Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman, who has been seen in the likes of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ and has a lot of Broadway stage experience).
Percy is the very definition of socially awkward, and his parents are seemingly worried that he won’t… how to say this delicately… become a man before he goes to college. And to entice Maddie to, er, do the deed, they offer her a car. It’s not the best car in the world, but you what they say about beggars and choosers.
So, against her better judgement, Maddie sets out to seduce Percy, who works at an animal shelter, doesn’t drink and barely wants to go anywhere. It’s hardly the most ideal situation and because this is a slapstick comedy, also results in both Percy and Maddie getting injured.
There are drunk jokes and sex jokes, mortal peril involving a train and also the hint that Maddie maybe, just maybe starts to appreciate Percy as more than just an opportunity to make money.
Who else is in the cast?
Alongside Lawrence and Feldman, the ensemble for ‘No Hard Feelings’ includes Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti as Percy’s overanxious helicopter parents Laird and Allison, who are determined that he cross his sexual life milestone before college.
Natalie Morales is Sara, Maddie’s best friend, while ‘The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach is Maddie’s on-again-off-again boyfriend who is definitely off-again when we meet him in the trailer, as not only has Maddie spent the night with someone else, but he’s there to repossess her car.
And Stupnitsky has stacked the cast with other comedy veterans including Hasan Minaj, Kyle Mooney and Scott MacArthur. The writer/director himself is no stranger to generating laughs, having also worked on ‘The Office’ and ‘Hello Ladies’. He usually collaborates with Lee Eisenberg but crafted the ‘No Hard Feelings’ script with ‘Dirty Grandpa’ writer John Phillips.
‘No Hard Feelings’ will be in theaters on June 23rd.
Director Gene Stupnitsky’s ‘No Hard Feelings’ is scheduled for release on June 23, 2023.
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‘No Hard Feelings’ is produced by Excellent Cadaver and Sony Pictures. It is set to release in theaters on June 23rd, 2023.
