Action comedies often walk the fine line between absurdity and entertainment and the movie “Novocaine” relies heavily on the former and forgets the latter.
The film was released on March 14 and follows a”‘boring” bank assistant manager, Nathan Caine, played by Jack Quaid, who suffers from Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA).
The disorder is estimated to affect 1 in 125 million births, making it an exceptionally rare condition that prevents individuals from feeling pain, according to an Iranian Journal of Pediatrics report. Caine’s reactions to the lack of pain provide some amusing moments, especially when he fakes pain responses to avoid suspicion of the antagonists.
While the humor landed for me, the film’s obsession with over-the-top violence ultimately overshadowed any meaningful plot development.
However, Quaid’s performance is undoubtedly the highlight of the film.
He has honed his awkward, but likable persona to perfection, making Caine an amusing, if not particularly a compelling protagonist.
Quaid plays Caine as a likable, slightly silly average man who learns to survive in a world that could easily kill him.
From the opening scenes, The main character’s condition defines his entire existence.
His apartment is baby-proofed for an adult: tennis balls cover sharp corners, his shower has a wooden block preventing any potentially hazardous raising of the water temperature and his liquid-only diet prevents him from biting off his tongue.
The film has many shocking moments where it pushes the kind of comedy you can create with someone who doesn’t feel pain. However, it’s very important to acknowledge that CIPA is a real condition and the film does not necessarily contribute to an accurate portrayal of its impact on those who live with it.
However, “Novocaine” wouldn’t be an action movie if it stayed in this confined, strict and boring world of Nathan Caine.
The writers use his peculiar character in the movie as a reason to spring for all kinds of absurd, borderline cartoonish violence.
The film began as a from a more coherent narrative in the beginning to a collection of gory set pieces.
It begins with an office romance starring Caine’s coworker Sherry, played by Amber Midthunder.
Eventually, Sherry and Caine’s bank is hit by a group of violent, armed robbers dressed as Santas, led by the unhinged Simon, played by Ray Nicholson.
The tension is palpable as the skilled robbers recklessly search the bank with all the employees on their knees, looking away in fright.
Ray Nicholson delivers a chilling and sadistic performance, expertly channeling his father Jack Nicholson's legacy as a remarkable horror movie actor.
Quickly, everything takes a turn for the worst when Simon kills the bank manager in cold blood and the criminals execute cops in a Heat-style shootout. Caine gets brutally beaten for not following the criminal's orders to their quick expectations.
Shortly after, Sherry gets kidnapped, which leads Caine to take matters into his own hands.
This is where “Novocaine” fully embraces its absurdity.
Caine goes full vigilante and begins tracking down the criminals one by one, having ridiculous fights that test how much his body can endure.
The best moments lean into the film’s dark humor, such as when Caine lacks proper weapons.
It’s gruesome but it’s also hilarious the way the movie commits to its logic.
But while the action delivers, the storytelling lacks development. The film spends so much time escalating its brutality that it forgets to develop its characters beyond the surface level.
Despite Sherry having an intriguing backstory, she is reduced to a damsel in distress until the last few minutes of the film when she fights back.
In comparison, Caine develops from a nervous and overly cautious man to a grinning, fearless force of destruction. It made me reflect on how extreme circumstances can push people beyond their limits, reshaping them in unexpected ways.
On the other side, I do believe having the action with more character depth would have created a stronger script, but instead, “Novocaine” doubles down on its chaotic, gory spectacle.
While “Novocaine” has the idea of being a satirical take on the action hero trope, it never fully commits. Instead, it settles for being a well-executed but shallow experience.
For action fans who watch movies solely for the brutal, dynamic fight scenes, this film can be a fun and bloody ride. However, those looking for a more balanced story might find it lacking.
