Category: Reviews
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Rating
Synopsis
Mild-mannered Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is an assistant bank manager living with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis, or CIPA. Despite his introverted nature, he develops a romantic interest in coworker Sherry Margrave (Amber Midthunder) and hesitantly asks her out. The two fall in love, but things go awry when the bank gets robbed, and the thieves take Sherry hostage. Despite his instincts telling him not to, Nathan decides to go after the robbers and rescue Sherry. Meanwhile, officers Mincy Langston (Betty Gabriel) and Coltraine Duffy (Matt Walsh) believe Nathan is working with the robbers. Throughout his journey, Nathan gets stabbed, gets shot at, has his hand deep-fried, and gets knocked out numerous times. With help from his internet pal, Roscoe Dixon (Jacob Batalon), Nathan tracks down the leader, Simon Greenly (Ray Nicholson). But what Nathan soon discovers will change his life forever.
Review
Novocaine is one of the year's biggest surprises, combining comedy and action with a surprisingly sweet love story. When I first saw the trailer, I was excited but worried it might not live up to its potential. Thankfully, the movie was every bit as entertaining and fast-paced as I hoped it would be. Like many great action movies of the 80s, this one perfectly organically combines action and comedy. The jokes never get in the way of the action, and the action isn't gratuitous enough to derail the comedy. Given the premise, making the hero an indestructible bullet farm would be easy, but that's not the case. While he can't feel pain, that doesn't mean he can't get hurt, and we're shown how vulnerable he is. A modern action movie rarely has a hero who's beaten and bloody, and it's greatly appreciated here.
Jack Quaid is perfectly cast as the introverted but good-hearted Nathan Caine, bringing great charm and likability. His snarky wit and dry humor make him a fun lead you instantly root for. Amber Midthunder does a great job as the love interest, Sherry Margrave, and she's got great chemistry with Quaid. It helps that the first third is spent developing their relationship so that when she's kidnapped, it's more impactful. Much like his father, Ray Nicholson makes for a great hateable villain with his broad smile and explosive energy. Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh are fun in their scenes together as they try to make sense of what's happening. Like in the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, Jacob Batalon works as the comic relief, though he can get tiresome. All in all, the cast does a fine job with the material, which could've gone wrong in lesser hands.
As undeniably enjoyable as the film is, that's not to say it's without flaws, though they aren't especially egregious. For one, as inventive as having a pain-resistant lead in an action movie is, it's not significantly groundbreaking. Plus, as wonderfully gratuitous as the violence is, it lacks the grit or over-the-top vibes of John Wick or Deadpool. I've seen people criticize that the hero could still die even if he can't feel pain, which the movie addresses. Granted, if inconsistencies like that bother you, you already know whether or not you'll enjoy this. Sure, the movie has problems, but if you can sit back and let the film go, it's a fun ride. While some of the hour and 50-minute runtime could've been trimmed, the pacing is so fast that you won't notice. Overall, Novocaine is an enjoyable thrill ride thanks to its likable lead, gratuitous violence, and gleeful attitude.
Novocaine is currently in theaters.
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