“No Hard Feelings” is making quite a buzz worldwide. It is an R-rated summer comedy, giving the genre one of its funniest films in years thanks to its outrageous, unapologetic raunch. Jennifer Lawrence drives this movie with her star act; she is intense and hot. She never misses a bit of the awkward humor, and her scenes with Andrew Barth Feldman are surprisingly sweet.
The film is indeed nothing particularly spectacular, and the direction seems to be invisible. At the same time, the movie is enjoyable as a throwback to the raunchy comedies of the late 90s and early 00s that have become all but extinct. The positive reception of “No Hard Feelings” might give the summer comedy genre a new life. Here are a few films you might wanna watch if you liked “No Hard Feelings.”
1. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
This movie comes closest to “No Hard Feelings” thematically. Both films deal with a virgin getting laid. In “The 40-year-Old Virgin”, Andy Stitzer has a pleasant life with a lovely apartment and a job, but even at the age of 40, he is yet to lose his virginity. Determined to get Andy laid, his co-workers make it their mission to devise plans to de-virginize him, much like how Percy’s helicopter parents put up an advertisement to find their son a date. Directed by Judd Apatow, the film is consistently hilarious and has a lot of awkward humor.
It features some of the iconic comedic scenes, like the waxing scene. Despite its R-rating, the movie is a sweet romantic comedy that is surprisingly wholesome, considering its premise. A big reason for that is Carell’s breakthrough performance as Andy, who portrays the character as a kind and caring individual who does not care about his status as a virgin, making him one of the most endearing characters in comedy. This shepherded in a whole new generation of R-rated comedies in the mid-2000s and gave us a laugh riot in the form of the misadventures of cinema’s most adored man-child.
2. Superbad (2007)
The scene in “No Hard Feelings” where Percy narrates his horrible experience of getting bullied in High School reminded me of the Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg written comedy “Superbad.” The movie follows three co-dependent high school seniors forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry. “Superbad” has to be one of the best-written “Days in the Life” comedies. It has it all: the crash sexuality to heartfelt moments of friendship to genuinely introspective thoughts.
Apart from the stellar cast comprising Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, and Bill Hader, the movie has a bunch of cool cameos, a wild dance scene, and teenagers drinking, fornicating, and vomiting, perfectly capturing the essence of the days of being absurd. Some of these scenes might remind you of the scene where Maddie goes to Percy’s high school party, which is frankly just a Gen Z version of the same.
In the end, the sleepover scene will hit you with an emotional jolt. In fact, the climax hinges a lot on the independent decisions the female characters take, which is rare in these buddy movies. That, in a way, paves the way for some strong female characters like Maddie in “No Hard Feelings.”
3. Wedding Crashers (2005)
John (Owen Wilson) and his buddy Jeremy(Vince Vaughn) are emotional criminals who use a woman’s hopes and dreams for carnal gain. They attend random weddings to sleep with single women in a romantic mood. As a result of the celebration, the two men find themselves in over their heads when their latest escapade results in them finding love. While “Wedding Crashers” is pitched as a sex comedy, it does pivot into a romantic comedy as both leads meet their match in Claire (Rachel McAdams) and Gloria (Isla Fisher).
It is one of the better R-rated romantic comedies of the 2000s. Moreover, it features some genuinely hilarious moments thanks to Wilson and Vaughn’s comedic banter. The cast is a great mix, and they are all hilarious together. In one scene, Will Farrell and Owen Wilson have a hilarious conversation about the rules of crashing weddings. Bradley Cooper plays a formulaic character of a despicable boyfriend who is easy to root against. It’s a stereotypical character that features in all our favorite reckless comedies. “Wedding Crashers” is a buoyant, high-volume charmer with infectious energy, a solid script, and stellar characters.
4. Palm Springs (2020)
“Palm Springs” is a 2020 American romantic comedy film directed by Max Barbakow, his directorial debut, and stars Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Peter Gallagher, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, and J. K. Simmons. The film follows two strangers who meet at a Palm Springs wedding only to get stuck in a time loop. The movie might not be the most original since the shadow of “Groundhog Day” looms large.
However, Palm Springs is a look at an existential crisis and a funny movie examining relationship troubles some go through. Max Barbakow does a fantastic job of making the audience laugh. Most importantly, he does a brilliant job of making us care about the characters.
The cast is endearing, and the scenes have the ability to go bonkers to surprise the audience completely. It provides 90 minutes of infectious fun, which rarely loses momentum. It interrogates the sustainability of long-term relationships in the modern era and tackles such profound topics sincerely. In fact, these topics are also crucial to “No Hard Feelings” as we see Percy struggling to have sex with a person he doesn’t know well. Later, he flips when he sees the future of his relationship uncertain as he has to go to Princeton for College. Overall, “Palm Springs” is a thoughtful & piercing watch if watching a romantic comedy with a Sci-fi twist is your thing.
Read More: 6 Movies to watch if you like ‘Heart of Stone’ on Netflix
5. American Pie (1999)
“American Pie” is the coming of the age-sex comedy that defined a generation. This cult classic follows the story of high school students who attend East Great Falls High. They make a pact that they must lose their virginity by prom night. However, as the group realizes that losing their virginity collectively may not be as easy, they devise different schemes. Starring Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, and Mena Suvari, this coming-of-age comedy is directed by Paul Weitz and features the similar line of daunting humiliation that comes with the anticipated rite of adulthood.
So, if you enjoyed ‘No Hard Feelings’ for its hilarious unpredictability, you’ll find “American Pie” just as entertaining. While some of the content in “American Pie ” has not aged well, some of its core messaging about first love and sex positivity still holds up. Though it revels in gross-out humor, many of the characters and situations are painfully realistic, making American Pie one of the most relatable and charming teen comedies. No one can forget the funniest live-stream sex scene, and the dialogues are hilarious. Two decades later, “American Pie” remains the finest crowd-pleasure with its rowdy, raunchy heart.
6. Hunterrr (2015)
If you think India doesn’t make good adult comedies, you are right, But that’s what makes Harshvardhan Kulkarni’s “Hunterrr” a particular film. This is a movie about a man and his sexuality but Bollywood style. It is subtly raunchy with dollops of nostalgia and guilt. It tells a story of a small-town, middle-class boy Mandar who grows up to become a person addicted to sex. Ordinary-looking Mandar pursues girls like a hunter. He wants to use his innocent vibe only to get laid and has no intention of settling down.
The movie is fairly rooted in the zeitgeist, and every guy from a South Asian home will relate to it. Furthermore, Gulshan Devaiah offers a delightful performance that is, in parts, innocent and charming. He imprints himself in the hearts of every woman he lays his eyes on.
This is a thin line; any lesser actor will make it highly creepy and uncomfortable. The gags are outstanding, and it has laugh-out-loud moments whenever Mandar falls in trouble. Some rote and cheesy dialogues aside, it has a profoundly emotional subplot and some strong female characters.
What makes it a refreshing watch is the use of genuinely fun songs and Mandar’s character arc. In addition, we rarely see an evocative character like Radhika Apte’s Tripti in a Hollywood Adult comedy. “Hunterrr” is a raw but compelling attempt at an Indianised risqué cinema and is a warm hug to the corny, sex-deprived young male population in the sub-continent.
7. Step Brothers (2008)
Often considered a cult classic, this absurd comedy has the director Adam McKay and actor Will Farrell duo in fine form. “Step Brothers” is an absolute hilarity from beginning to end, conjuring a level of insanity with such immaculate casting and awe-inducing performances. It thrives on bizarre poignancy and humorous family dynamics. This movie is filled with well-intentioned humor.
Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are grown men. But that doesn’t stop them from living at home and becoming jealous, competitive stepbrothers when their single parents marry. Brennan’s constant competition with Dale strains his mom’s marriage to Dale’s dad, leaving everyone to wonder whether they’ll ever see eye to eye. The movie allows two great actors, Will Farrell, and John C. Reilly, to feed off each other’s comedic energy.
None of the characters are weak or annoying, from the leads to the small cameo from Seth Rogen. “Step Brothers” is the simple-minded comedy stuff that you would expect from a Will Ferrell flick, but it’s the best example of it. If you think a woman peeing in a urinal, two forty-year-old dummies getting beat up by junior high bullies, and nerd humor is funny, welcome to the team.
Sure, it’s ridiculous, but it also teaches a profound life lesson. If you loved the scenes with the helicopter parents and the dysfunctional family lunch scene from “No Hard Feelings,” you will undoubtedly love “Step Brothers.” Delightfully vulgar and thoroughly entertaining in places, the final scene where Dale and Brennan beat up the kids in the playground is still one of the most satisfying scenes in cinema.
8. Licorice Pizza (2021)
Paul Thomas Anderson goes for a full-on nostalgia trip in his Oscar Nominated movie “Licorice Pizza,” starring Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, and Sean Penn. “Licorice Pizza” is purposeful, not overly romantic or sexy. Set in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s, the film follows a high school student who gets infatuated with an older woman. The theme of a younger school boy falling in love with an older woman connects “Licorice Pizza” to “No Hard Feelings.” PTA presents a simplistic storyline that banks on magnetic performances from their leads. “Licorice Pizza” is, first and foremost, an effectively written deadpan comedy. The boob scene where Hoffman’s character gets slapped is the movie’s funniest and most shocking scene.
The leads have incredible chemistry and demonstrate enormous maturity. Their personal arcs leave a strong impression. The impressive comic timing and witty dialogues keep the audience glued at all times. PTA transports the audience to a sunny, gloomy town of the 70s. Technically speaking, the cinematography is stunning and has an exquisite soundtrack. Bradley Cooper has a hilarious cameo in an unrecognizable avatar. “Licorice Pizza” is a beautiful and evocative ode to the youth. It’s a messy and lively coming-of-the-story that reminds you of all the summer comedies we have loved over the years- easily making it the most captivating time capsule in recent times. You can easily term “No Hard Feelings” as “Licorice Pizza,” directed by Judd Apatow.
Read More: 7 TV Shows To Watch If You Like ‘Only Murders in the Building’ on Hulu
