20s Movie Review - No Hard Feelings

Director: Gene Stupnitsky
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Scott MacArthur, Kyle Mooney

Description: On the brink of losing her home, Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) finds an intriguing job losing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son (Andrew Barth Feldman) out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.

Review: When Maddie Barker’s car is repossessed, she can no longer work as an Uber driver and is in danger of losing her home. She finds an ad from two overprotective parents, asking for a girl who can bring their awkward 19-year old son Percy out of his shell. In exchange, they promise her a car with which she can pay of her debts to save her childhood home.

“No Hard Feelings” is marketed as a romantic comedy. The supposed romance in this film is cringeworthy, it feels wrong. The comedy is more present, even though that’s not its strongest suit either. It has its moments, but it’s mainly two very opposite people getting into awkward situations.
Jennifer Lawrence plays Maddie. She is mess, very outspoken, really unlikeable at the start of the film. A lot of clichés come in here. Her trying to romance a young 19-year-old guy still feels weird, but their eventual friendship does work.

Not that great, not Lawrence’s best work by far. But funny enough for the time being.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Brigsby Bear

Director: Dave McCary
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Michaela Watkins, Claire Danes, Beck Bennett, Andy Samberg, Matt Walsh

Description: After being freed from his life in an underground bunker, a man (Kyle Mooney) sets out to make a movie of the only TV show he has ever known.

Review: Twenty-something James’ life is all about the fictional bear Brigsby. Every week a new adventure awaits him, in the form of a VCR tape on his doormat. Brigsby Bear teaches its viewers life lessons, math and morals. James’ bedroom is filled with Brigsby Bear stuff and you would think a toddler lives there. But James doesn’t know anything outside the bunker he lives in: his parents and the Brigsby Bear TV-show.
“Brigsby Bear” is the type of film I love to watch the most: light drama with a subtle hint of comedy. James’ life inside the bunker is interrupted and he has to try and survive in the real world. But is it necessarily better for him?
The film has a high level of feel-good and you want everything for James that he is fighting for. Two world come together, instead of exchanging one for the other. Because why shouldn’t James introduce the people in his new life to Brigsby Bear. His transition to this reality can go much smoother this way.
In director Dave McCary’s film, there is no room for misunderstanding and intolerance. It never gets mean or hostile. And I loved that about “Brigsby Bear”. There is so much hatred already, it’s great to see a film without any of that nasty behavior.
“Brigsby Bear” is movie that probably not a lot of people saw and that’s such a shame. It’s a movie that shouldn’t be left unseen, I loved this film. Never lose the child within yourself.

Rating: 5/ 5