No Hard Feelings
Hey there, citrus lovers! Today, I'm diving into my very first movie review, and I'm thrilled to share my thoughts with you all. I’m still getting the hang of this, so bear with me as I try not to spill too many beans while getting to the juicy bits. And if you have any tips for me to improve, I’m all ears – or should I say, all peels?
Streaming on: Netflix
Citrus Rating: Refreshing (2 stars)
No Hard Feelings brings together a talented cast in the beautiful seaside town of Montauk, Long Island. (Yes, I had to look it up, because geography isn’t exactly my strong suit, but it’s a real place, nestled on the east coast of the continental United States – who knew?) The film features the ever-charismatic Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie, and Andrew Barth Feldman as Percy, supported by a stellar lineup including Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick, and Natalie Morales.
Spoiler Alert: There’s some juicy stuff ahead, so if you prefer your oranges unpeeled, you might want to skip this part.
The movie kicks off with Maddie, who’s in her early 30s and dealing with a whole heap of daddy issues. These manifest in her fear of commitment and a general reluctance to be vulnerable – or at least, that’s my non-expert take on it. Maddie is on the brink of losing her inherited home due to back taxes and looming foreclosure, despite the house being paid off. Talk about a tough break! No. Irresponsible dumb dumb behavior.
Like many 30-somethings today, Maddie is juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet. But when her car gets repossessed by an ex lover Gary, one of those jobs as a rideshare driver is cut off, leaving her in an even tighter spot. So, when she stumbles upon an advertisement from a wealthy couple looking to get their socially awkward son, Percy, some “people” experience before college, Maddie jumps at the chance. The reward? A car. Specifically, a Buick that may or may not have been the final resting place of Percy’s grandfather. Red flags, anyone?
Now, here’s where things get a little tricky. Maddie is 32, and Percy is 19. Yep, if the roles were reversed, this would definitely raise some eyebrows. Not to mention the scenes involving underage drinking (or at least, the encouragement of it). There’s a lot to unpack here, but let’s just say the movie plays fast and loose with some pretty iffy dynamics.
I couldn’t help but notice some parallels with Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a movie I genuinely enjoyed. There’s a skinny-dip beach scene that echoes the beach kickback where Mila Kunis’ character goes full “Flavor of Love” on her ex. And the piano scene where Percy jams out to an 80’s classic reminded me of the Dracula piano scene in the tiki bar. If you know, you know.
One of the things that really hit home for me was the portrayal of social media obsession. It’s like, can we just put our phones down and live in the moment? At the party, everything becomes a filmable moment, and the soon-to-be college freshmen take everything out of context. It’s a serious pet peeve of mine...the constant need to turn every moment into a “gotcha” moment for social media. But I digress.
All in all, No Hard Feelings is an entertaining watch with its fair share of laughs and cringes. Would I watch it again? Absolutely. It’s not without its flaws, but there’s enough heart and humor to keep you engaged.
I’m introducing a new rating system for my reviews – let’s call it the Citrus Rating. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Zesty: The highest rating – a must-watch!
- Refreshing: A solid 2 stars – worth a watch.
- Sour: A 1-star rating – maybe skip this one.
For No Hard Feelings, I’m giving it a Refreshing rating. It’s not quite zesty, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for a light-hearted, sometimes awkward, seaside unconventional story of friendship and coming of age.
Thanks for joining me on this first review journey! I’m excited to keep growing and refining my approach, and I hope you enjoyed the ride. Let me know what you think, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or suggestions.
Until next time, keep it zesty film buffs!
Jess Pye
