General Information:
Directed by — Gene Stupnitsky
Starring — Jennifer Lawrence (Maddie), Andrew Barth Feldman (Percy Becker), Matthew Broderick (Laird Becker), Laura Benanti (Allison Becker), Natalie Morales (Sarah), Scott MacArthur (Jim), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Gary)
Synopsis — Desperate for a car after hers gets towed, Maddie answers a Craigslist ad from helicopter parents asking for someone to “date” their shy son before he heads off to college, in hopes that it will get him out of his shell.
Where to Watch — In Theaters
Review:
I like to think that I am finally at the age where I can appreciate the raunchy comedy genre to the fullest extent. It seems like Hollywood has not really put one out recently, so I was ecstatic to hear that Jennifer Lawrence was going to be producing and starring in one. I fell in love with Lawrence as an actor during her reign of “The Hunger Games” franchise, but have stuck with her filmography ever since. Based on a real Craigslist ad the director found and the greater amount of control parents seem to have on their kids nowadays, this was the perfect film for the modern young adult. And it did the job pretty well if I do say so myself.
The best part about this film was the chemistry between Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman, who plays the shy high school senior that Lawrence’s character Maddie is paid to seduce. Not only are they absolutely hilarious in their scenes together, but their characters also have so much heart between them. You can see them grow to care for one another that when the inevitable third act blow up happens, your heart breaks for what the characters are going through. Even though there is an age gap between Maddie and Percy, that does not mean that they cannot go through the same types of struggles. The entire cast just seems like they are having the best time filming this movie and that comes through with each of their performances.
The story follows a very typical three act structure with the conflict coming towards the end of the film and things working out for everyone at the end. So many moments had me laughing to the point of tears in my eyes, but other than that, I could easily predict what was going to happen. That does not make it a bad movie, however, just a predictable one. However, there was one heart-warming moment that took me for a bit of a surprise that happened between Maddie and her friends Sarah (Natalie Morales) and Jim (Scott MacArthur) who are expecting their first child but struggling financially. Other than that scene, you probably know how this film will play out.
Lawrence and Feldman having charming chemistry in this pretty standard comedy film. Come for the actors, stay for the hear.
