If you’ve watched any interviews with actress Jennifer Lawrence through the years, there is no question she comes across as naturally funny. In spite of this clear ability, she has stuck with dramatic and action-oriented work and only recently signed on to a comedy with No Hard Feelings, which opens Friday. Today, reviews are out and, apparently, the idea is not exactly the best.
Over at Variety, Owen Gleiberman says the film mostly plays it safe in spite of what its raunchy trailers have suggested. He does have praise for newcomer Andrew Barth Feldman (Percy to Lawrence’s Maddie) as a combination of Mike White crossed with Seth Meyers’ pale son and an amoeba, but, also does not necessarily buy Maddie dating a dweeb in order to obtain a vehicle.
In Total Film, Neil Smith gives the piece two stars out of five and goes as far as to write taste and laughs are in short supply throughout its runtime. Smith does say Lawrence is at least impressively game for a number of wild scenes other stars with the same prior pedigree would not likely touch, but, ultimately the story is just way too dated for the contemporary #MeToo era.
While a number of reviews have been brutal for the piece currently at 52 percent rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, more than one go in a kinder or praising direction, too. At The Hollywood Reporter, Lovia Gyarkye’s assessment of the piece sums it up as being “sweet and saucy.” She also says the piece has a surprising amount of heart to it and enjoys the performance of Lawrence and Feldman.
Audiences have given the piece a 94 percent positive rating as of this story’s filing.
