Sony Pictures is out with a new comedy, No Hard Feelings, but the teased plot points of the film have been topic of much controversy and debate since the release of the trailer. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence playing Maddie, a 32-year-old woman set up in an affair by two parents who aim to use this relationship to surveillance their 19-year-old son, Percy.
In the trailer for this comedy, a Craiglist ad for this service is seen, but what makes this ad so significant is its connections to a real ad from 10 years ago which was dug up by the project’s producers and shared with writer and director Gene Stupnitksy. This premise alongside the general concept of Lawrence’s character seducing a much younger person of interest sparked much criticism from social media and internet critics.
Producer Marc Provissiero was inspired to make movie about overprotective parenting. He originally wanted Stupnitsky to adapt the book, How to Raise an Adult, but Stupnitsky was unfamiliar with the story. With fellow producer, Naomi Odenkirk’s, discovery of the Craigslist ad, the movie was made.
When interviewed at Tuesday’s premiere, Laura Benanti, who played Percy’s mother Allison believes that although her character’s motives are “insane,” this helicopter parenting is portrayed in the name of extreme satire.
“It’s a cautionary tale,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “If you are a helicopter parent who puts your child in such a bubble, they do not know how to exist outside of that bubble, you are going to make the exact opposite and insane choice, which is what they are doing here. I feel like it is a very satirical look at what can happen if you do not give your children a longer leash to figure things out for themselves. Otherwise, you’re going to end up curating their life forever.”
Another cast member, Natalie Morales, provided a counterargument to those criticizing the age difference between the two main characters.
“Have you seen The Graduate?” she said. “[Lawrence is] supposed to be playing an older woman. There are so many movies where the male lead is much older than the female lead, and TV shows especially, and nobody bats an eye. So what’s the difference.”
“It goes the other way too,” added Stupnitsky, referencing the 15-year age difference between Lawrence and her co-lead in Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper.
Leave a Comment