Controversial Age Gap: Director Opens Up About Jennifer Lawrence in No Hard Feelings

In Jennifer Lawrence's latest comedy film, "No Hard Feelings," the age difference between her character and her co-star is raising some eyebrows among fans.

The movie takes the concept of parental intervention to the extreme. Lawrence portrays Maddie Barker, a 32-year-old Uber driver whose car is repossessed. Desperate for transportation, she responds to a Craigslist ad offering a car, only to realize it's a ploy by parents seeking a woman in her mid-20s to help their socially awkward son come out of his shell. Maddie agrees to the arrangement and starts to engage with Percy Becker (played by Andrew Barth Feldman), a 19-year-old in need of a confidence boost.

It is quite apparent in the movie that there is a significant age difference between Percy, a shy and socially anxious teenager, and the extravagant college lifestyle that he is not prepared for. "No Hard Feelings" has received an R rating due to its explicit language and nudity. The specific scene in question takes place at the beach, where Lawrence's character attempts to use her attractiveness to seduce Percy, encouraging him to lose his virginity and abandon his inhibitions. However, the director of "No Hard Feelings" had to acknowledge the evident age disparity between the characters and the two actors.

No Hard Feelings director expected the controversy about the comedy storyline

Gene Stupnitsky both directed and co-wrote the film, taking careful consideration of the R-rated comedy and its significant age difference.

Some fans on X/Twitter expressed their discomfort with the 13-year age gap between Maddie and Percy in No Hard Feelings. One fan remarked, "The age difference in #NoHardFeelings feels really strange to me... It's difficult for me to even enjoy the movie."

Another individual was disappointed upon realizing the significant age difference. They expressed, "I was initially thrilled to see Jennifer Lawrence in a new film until I discovered that it revolves around a 32-year-old dating a 19-year-old. It's essentially the same age gap as that between John Mayer and Taylor Swift, but somehow, since the gender roles are reversed, it's considered material for a 'romantic comedy.'"

Stupnitsky, as reported by Unilad, explained to Looper that he compared the age disparity to Lawrence's role alongside Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook. Regarding No Hard Feelings, he stated, "We were careful about avoiding any uncomfortable aspects because it could have easily gone in that direction... We approached it from a humanistic standpoint, which is all we can hope for."

Actor Feldman acknowledged to Variety that there would be backlash for the comedy movie. He suggested that it is to be expected for any R-rated raunchy comedy, particularly one that aims to make viewers uncomfortable. Agreeing with the director, Feldman stated that he and Lawrence, both adults, approached the age gap in a considerate manner.

Catch No Hard Feelings streaming on Netflix. Don't forget to explore our other upcoming hubs below.

Firefly Lane Season 3 availability, Beef Season 2 update, Monster Season 2 release speculation, potential for Ginny and Georgia Season 3, All the Light We Cannot See adaptation, Stranger Things Season 5 status, Florida Man Season 2 possibility, Obsession Season 2 progress, The Sandman Season 2 prospects, The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3 developments, Heartstopper Season 3 updates, and potential for Virgin River Season 6.