Novocainelaunches Jack Quaid to action gloryin a gnarly narrative that will have audiences cheering out loud and grimacing at the same time.The film’s clever premise has a seemingly ordinary protagonist with a congenital medical condition where he can’t feel pain.This means that the ruthless baddies can inflict all sorts of jaw-dropping punishment and our nerveless hero keeps coming like an unstoppable punching bag.Novocainegets top marks for unfettered savagery in a wild narrative. The big twists are pretty obvious, but that doesn’t stop the fun on this crazy ride.
Nathan Caine (Quaid) gets out of bed for work. An alarm reminds him of an important duty that has to be done every few hours. The tall and slim Nathan sips his breakfast smoothie in a dull daze.He’s a lonely dude stuck in a boring life.Nathan, an assistant manager at a San Diego bank, perks up when Sherry (Amber Midthunder), a gorgeous teller, sneaks in late for their morning meeting. He’s got a big crush on her, but has been too shy to make a move.
A Punching Bag Hero
When the girl of his dreams gets kidnapped, a man turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected advantage as he fights a bunch of thugs to get her back.
A chance encounter at the coffee station gives away Nathan’s secret. Sherry’s horrified when a scalding spill blisters Nathan’s hand, but he doesn’t even notice until seeing her reaction. An embarrassed Nathan admits he can’t feel pain and has to be very careful not to cause permanent bodily damage. Sherry invites Nathan to lunch and a sweet romance ensues, much to Nathan’s pleasant surprise. That happiness is short-lived when a trio of costumed robbers enter the bank the following day. They want access to the vault and are willing to hurt anyone to get it.The situation devolves into a worse nightmare when the criminals kidnap Sherry after a deadly shootout.Nathan decides to chase after them and not wait for police back-up.
Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, known forBodyandSignificant Other, do a good job with the critical first act exposition.Nathan puts tennis balls on every corner with a sharp edge. He can cut himself and bleed out without realizing it. This is also the reason why Nathan drinks every meal. Drum roll please, he might accidentally bite his tongue off while chewing. Nathan takes steps to protect himself, but this also reinforces isolation and a poor self-image. Nathan doesn’t think he can enjoy simple pleasures until Sherry opens the door to new experiences.
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Novocaineshifts into high gear in a second act that stays pedal to the metal as Nathan frantically searches for Sherry. Berk and Olsen have already established his motivation. We know the depth of his abilities and hellbent desire to save the girl of his dreams.This is akin to Clark Kent tearing open his shirt and revealing the Superman logo.The meek and mild-mannered banker transforms into a formidable warrior, buthe’s not strong, bulletproof, or a skilled fighter. There were audible gasps in my theater when Nathan engages his first opponent and begins to get grotesquely injured.
Novocaine’smake-up, practical effects, and stunt departments have to be lauded for their vital contribution.Nathan’s wear and tear on his quest isn’t pretty to say the least. He’s forced to patch himself up like a novice handyman doing surgery with household items. Nathan cutting open his skin to yank out bullets, and then gluing the mangled flesh back together looks hideously real. These scenes escalate in graphic intensity to disturbing heights, so be forewarned.Nathan can’t feel a thing, but those with queasy stomachs might be reaching for a barf bag.
Stomach-Churning Violence
The brutal fights are smartly staged. Again, Nathan isn’t an expert a**-kicker. He faces far more experienced thugs who beat him to a bloody pulp, but their viciousness can’t overcome his stamina. The knife going through Nathan’s hand can easily be pulled out for a stabbing retort. Berk and Olsen capture gobsmacked reaction shots when the antagonists realize exactly who they’re dealing with. They aren’t painless and get significant comeuppance for their transgressions. Let’s just say thatNathan always gets his pound of flesh.
Quaid has admittedly gotten a leg up in Hollywood from his famous lineage.There’s no denying his “nepo baby” status, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a talentedand versatile actor. Recent turns as legendary physicist Richard Feynman inOppenheimerand an evil boyfriend inthe excellentCompanionshow his range. Nathan is a multi-faceted character that blends comedy and drama with hardcore fight choreography. Quaid must be believable as the shy nerd Sherry falls in love with and also the fearless savior willing to sacrifice himself to get her back.Quaid does a banner job as Nathan and deserves praise.
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Anyone paying attention will be able to spotNovocaine’sclimactic reveals a mile away.The film’s characters should also have been able to deduce the twist barrage. My response is toembrace a willing suspension of disbeliefand a well-executed plot. You’re watching a movie where the protagonist can be repeatedly shot and stabbed, so that shouldn’t be a stretch.Novocaineis a production of Infrared Pictures, Safehouse Pictures, and Circle of Confusion. It will be released theatrically on March 14th from Paramount Pictures.
