NOVOCAINE, US, 2025. Starring Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon. Directed by Dan Berk, Robert Olsen. 100 in 10 minutes. Rated MA (Strong violence and injury detail).
Most definitely not what we might have been expecting, not even during the first 20 minutes or so of romantic comedy – and audiences, perhaps, wondering about sitting through 90 more minutes of this. And then, it changes, 90° or more and it keeps changing in plot, twists and angles, then more and more angles. If this sounds intriguing, and you are tempted to see Novocaine, read no more because there are many indications of spoilers – and more spoilers.
Actually, after the romance, it was something of a relief when three Santa Clauses turn up at the San Diego bank Nate, our hero to be, is assistant manager. They are robbers and there is a brutal heist, grim deaths and the police are called.
Then the rest of the film is an action show (lots) and violence (Jason Statham could pick up a tip or three). And, perhaps, there will be some embarrassment for members of the audience realise that they are enjoying it all. There are chases and deaths, fights and torture, and just when it seems to end, it continues, more ends and continuations, a succession of possible endings . . .
What makes it believable (while on screen anyway) is the premise that the hero, Nathan Caine, played with some charm by Quaid (son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, who was able to show his villainous side in the arresting thriller, Companion) suffers from a lifelong condition which means that he can feel no pain – hence the schoolboy nickname from bullies for him, Novocaine.
But, while Nate is a meek bank assistant with a kind heart for customers in need, he is also a loner, then challenged by love to turn into a kind of battered (but no pain felt) superhero, rescuer, naive but ingenious, ready to risk everything for his attractive fellow-worker, Jessie (Midthunder). And he has an enjoyable friend, Roscoe (Batalon), his online computer games partner. And some twists here as well with Jesse and Roscoe.
And the smilingly sneering, psychopathic villain is Ray Nicholson, son of Jack, showing some influences from Jack’s performance in The Shining.
For some audiences, the graphic violence is too much. But, this reviewer along with others, despite the violence and the zany unexpected aspects of the scenario were enjoyable, even if that it is a bit embarrassing to admit.
Paramount
Released 3 April