Novocaine
Cast: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder,Ray Nicholson
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olson
** out of Five *’s
A man who cannot feel pain while avoiding violence has to put forth his bravery in order to save the woman he loves in this predictable bland action comedy.
Nathan Cain(Jack Quaid) is born with a genetic disease where he can't notice any sensation. So when a beautiful new bank teller accidently spills hot coffee all over his hands. He doesn’t notice how badly he is burned. After this meet cute scene with our story's love interest, Sherry(Amber Midthunder) where she asks him out on a date afterwards. It’s clear that he is attracted to her but lacks any true self confidence.This would be way more plausible if he was unattractive and maybe worked on the same level as her. But Nathan is an assistant Bank Manager who has a really nice place and is friendly to those he knows. Even during their date when he meets some childhood bullies who call him Novocaine. It’s clear that only a select few from his past treat him this way. He is letting a very small few ruin his chances when they shouldn't be. The movie wants to establish Nathan as being this geek who is always alone and can’t find true love but it’s difficult to buy into that notion when you cast someone who is attractive and has charm. It’s like trying to say Sydney Sweeney is unattractive if you don’t put any makeup or extra items on her. She can be awkward as she wants to be. No one is going to buy that she can’t get dates.
After one night, Nathan is ready to marry Sherry and he goes into work with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. The bank is than robbed by a group of people wearing Santa outfits. Going with ex presidents would have been too on the nose reference to another film. Although having these crooks turn out to be big snowboarder enthusiasts would have been a nice little twist. During the holdup, they kill the bank manager and take Sherry hostage. So of course our hero has to go out and save her.
What follows is a series of action scenes where said bad guy attacks our hero with an object that would hurt most people very badly. But sense he can feel no pain, it comes off as being a mild inconvenience. In some sequences like the one where a guy is peeling off Nathan’s fingernails. This is very funny but others come off as something you should wince or squirm at but the way the action is staged. It comes off more like a live action cartoon where there are no stakes or concerns about what happens to him. This had the vibe of Kick Ass but without any interesting characters for anyone to like or be invested in.
Jack Quaid(son of Dennis Quaid) isn’t bad. He is a good actor in shows like The Boys and movies like Scream 5. But he doesn’t have quite the chops to be a lead in a film. The only actor who I would like to see the lead in a future project is Ray Nicholson(Son of Jack Nicholson). He was great as the leader of the bank robbers and the movie would have been better if it followed them instead of this meek bank manager who has little to no personality to root for.
Jason "The Vern" Hemming is a proud member of the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA). Read other great film reviews by other amazing writers
https://mnfilmcriticsassociation.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment