Jennifer Lawrence is a fine actress, as shown in Silver Lining Playbook (2012) and American Hustle (2013). She's broadening her range with a ranch-com, but No Hard Feelings (2023) is so poorly written, it is beneath her talents.
The problem is writer/director Gene Stupnitsky. He likes ranch-coms, but doesn't make them very well, as shown by Good Boys (2019) and Bad Teacher (2011). Now in No Hard Feelings (2023), a plausible premise leads from one painfully unrealistic situation to another, cringeworthy characters unable to function socially.
A raunch-com is not Oscar-worthy drama, but it can still portray realistic characters and a sensible story arc. No Hard Feelings (2023) is in many respects a rip-off of The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019), but the latter portrays nerd culture much more deftly, showing sympathy both for the nerds and for more socially adept people who live with them. No Hard Feelings (2023) had an opportunity to portray micromanaged, overly-protected Gen Zers and their difficulties leaving the nest. Instead it portrays a dweeb born with a silver spoon who squanders opportunities. The characters are reduced to tokens in contrived situations.
Kaley Cuoco found a rich character to portray in The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019). Unfortunately, No Hard Feelings (2023) is not a similar opportunity for Jennifer Lawrence.
The problem is writer/director Gene Stupnitsky. He likes ranch-coms, but doesn't make them very well, as shown by Good Boys (2019) and Bad Teacher (2011). Now in No Hard Feelings (2023), a plausible premise leads from one painfully unrealistic situation to another, cringeworthy characters unable to function socially.
A raunch-com is not Oscar-worthy drama, but it can still portray realistic characters and a sensible story arc. No Hard Feelings (2023) is in many respects a rip-off of The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019), but the latter portrays nerd culture much more deftly, showing sympathy both for the nerds and for more socially adept people who live with them. No Hard Feelings (2023) had an opportunity to portray micromanaged, overly-protected Gen Zers and their difficulties leaving the nest. Instead it portrays a dweeb born with a silver spoon who squanders opportunities. The characters are reduced to tokens in contrived situations.
Kaley Cuoco found a rich character to portray in The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019). Unfortunately, No Hard Feelings (2023) is not a similar opportunity for Jennifer Lawrence.