Novocaine Movie Review: An absurd action-comedy that delivers laughs and gore
Novocaine Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,This wild, over-the-top action-comedy leans into absurdity but offers a fun mix of gore, humour, and
Critic's Rating: 3.5/5
Story: A banker suffering from a rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling physical pain turns his ailment into his greatest strength to rescue the woman he loves from kidnappers.
Review: Director Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s action comedy kicks off with R.E.M’s ‘Everybody Hurts,’ which ironically doesn’t apply to its protagoist, Nathan ‘Nate’ Caine. As an assistant bank manager with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA), Nate is immune to physical discomfort, a condition that forces him to baby-proof his home, avoid solid foods (lest he accidentally bite off his tongue), and set alarms to remind himself to use the bathroom. Amid this painful (pun unintended) condition, he falls head over heels for Sherry (Amber Midthunder). But when a violent bank robbery leads to Sherry being taken hostage, Nate flips his lifelong curse into a weapon, setting off on a chaotic mission to save her.
Writer Lars Jacobson’s quirky concept, paired with Berk and Olsen’s zany direction, results in a film that blends gore, comedy, and stylish action in unexpected ways. There’s plenty to make your stomach turn—Nate dunking his hand in boiling oil, walking through a booby-trapped house, tattooing an address onto his palm—but the film’s sharp humour and slick execution make it an oddly enjoyable ride. One standout sequence has Nate pretending to feel pain while a villain tortures him, all to buy time until help arrives. The irony is clear: a man who can’t feel pain is utterly unprepared to handle real danger, having spent his life cocooned by his overprotective family.
The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor should you—at least until the final act. While the plot overstretches with two unnecessary climaxes that add little to the narrative, its 115-minute runtime maintains a steady pace. The comedic moments keep the audience engaged, even amid the excess of slapstick violence.
Jack Quaid delivers a solid performance as the unlikely hero on an unintentional blood-soaked rampage, effortlessly balancing humour and chaos. His chemistry with Amber Midthunder feels natural, while Jacob Batalon shines as the hilarious sidekick, injecting the film with a fun buddy-movie vibe. Ray Nicholson, as the psychotic villain, brings just the right amount of menace to keep things interesting.
This wild, over-the-top action-comedy leans into absurdity but offers a fun mix of gore, humour, and stylish thrills. But be prepared to recoil!
Review: Director Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s action comedy kicks off with R.E.M’s ‘Everybody Hurts,’ which ironically doesn’t apply to its protagoist, Nathan ‘Nate’ Caine. As an assistant bank manager with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA), Nate is immune to physical discomfort, a condition that forces him to baby-proof his home, avoid solid foods (lest he accidentally bite off his tongue), and set alarms to remind himself to use the bathroom. Amid this painful (pun unintended) condition, he falls head over heels for Sherry (Amber Midthunder). But when a violent bank robbery leads to Sherry being taken hostage, Nate flips his lifelong curse into a weapon, setting off on a chaotic mission to save her.
Writer Lars Jacobson’s quirky concept, paired with Berk and Olsen’s zany direction, results in a film that blends gore, comedy, and stylish action in unexpected ways. There’s plenty to make your stomach turn—Nate dunking his hand in boiling oil, walking through a booby-trapped house, tattooing an address onto his palm—but the film’s sharp humour and slick execution make it an oddly enjoyable ride. One standout sequence has Nate pretending to feel pain while a villain tortures him, all to buy time until help arrives. The irony is clear: a man who can’t feel pain is utterly unprepared to handle real danger, having spent his life cocooned by his overprotective family.
The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor should you—at least until the final act. While the plot overstretches with two unnecessary climaxes that add little to the narrative, its 115-minute runtime maintains a steady pace. The comedic moments keep the audience engaged, even amid the excess of slapstick violence.
Jack Quaid delivers a solid performance as the unlikely hero on an unintentional blood-soaked rampage, effortlessly balancing humour and chaos. His chemistry with Amber Midthunder feels natural, while Jacob Batalon shines as the hilarious sidekick, injecting the film with a fun buddy-movie vibe. Ray Nicholson, as the psychotic villain, brings just the right amount of menace to keep things interesting.
This wild, over-the-top action-comedy leans into absurdity but offers a fun mix of gore, humour, and stylish thrills. But be prepared to recoil!
