Carl Roberts 
“Violent, gory, with some huge laughs and superb performances from Jack Quaid and Ray Nicholson, Novocaine is terrific entertainment.”
After all the trailers and teases, Novocaine is here. The action comedy starring Jack Quaid finally hits UK cinemas this Friday. The film, while mainly being cinematic entertainment, also shines a light on the condition that Nathan is afflicted with in the film: congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA). As you would expect, the film is full to the brim with action, violence, gore and some huge laugh-out-loud moments. But is the film a painless and enjoyable action comedy that hits the spot? Or is it something so painful we need to give it a shot to put it out of its misery?
PREMISE
When Nate (Jack Quaid) learns that the girl of his dreams, (Amber Midthunder), has been kidnapped, he harnesses his unique ability to feel no pain as an unexpected strength. Determined to rescue his girlfriend, he actively confronts the challenges posed by the bank robbery that put her in danger.
THOUGHTS
Audiences need not worry as the film is a superb piece of entertainment. Despite a slow opening twenty minutes, the film suddenly kicks into high gear and never slows down. Car chases, gunfights, fist fights, torture sequences and some great comedy flow thick and fast. There are also some wince-inducing moments that some may be repulsed by. But for the rest of us, we find ourselves cheering Nate along in his quest to rescue the girl. While the opening may be slow, setting up what’s to come, the next ninety minutes more than makes up for it.
Those who are squeamish at the sight of blood will need to stay away from the film. There is enough blood flowing here to fill a swimming pool, at the very least. Throw in some gruesome-looking injury effects throughout, and some audience members will need a strong stomach. But these effects make the film that much more enjoyable and realistic. Ok, so not THAT realistic, but you get the drift. You can actually believe that someone may actually not know if they’ve seriously injured themselves until it’s too late. Also, they could indeed bite off their own tongue while eating and not realise it. Although this doesn’t happen in the film, it could happen to people who have the medical condition.
JACK QUAID
Once again, Jack Quaid proves to the world that he is one of the best young actors around. After his brilliantly evil performance in Companion earlier this year, Quaid again nails his character. As Nathan ‘Nate’ Caine, Quaid has our attention from the very start. For the opening twenty minutes, we feel Nate is nothing but a spineless Yes-man. Someone who is scared of his own shadow at times. Of course, his condition is the reason for this, but we want to shout at him to get himself together and enjoy life while he can. Once he allows himself to get close to Amber Midthunder’s character of Sherry, he comes out of his shell. Once Sherry is abducted, Nate becomes the ultimate unintentional action hero.
Quaid’s comedic timing is never better than it is here. Forget Hughie from The Boys or Boimler from Star Trek: Lower Decks, Quaid here is sheer brilliance. He delivers his comedic lines with style while also showing his action-hero chops. His reactions to being injured has us all laughing. We expect to hear some blood-curdling screams. Instead, we don’t get anything except exasperation, a ‘not again’ reaction that sustains the entertainment level. Jack Quaid shows here that he could play a straight-laced movie action hero if he so desires. But for now, we are fully entertained and satisfied with his comedic rendition here.
AMBER MIDTHUNDER
Amber Midthunder makes an impression as Sherry. We find ourselves feeling exasperated at times with the little she has to do. But this is intentional. By the time we reach the final twenty-five minutes, she becomes the female action foil to Quaid. For someone we think won’t say boo to the proverbial goose, we are mistaken to great effect. One minute, we watch as she is the (supposed) damsel-in-distress. The next, we are astounded as she kicks ass without mercy. For someone who comes across as so sweet and innocent, we feel shocked when she utters a four-letter curse. Amber Midthunder is the perfect foil to Jack Quaid, making the pairing a winning one. After her epic turn in Prey, the actress proves she has a huge career ahead of her with her form in this film.
RAY NICHOLSON
Ray Nicholson as the main villain, Simon, comes oh so close to stealing the film from under everyone. His villainous traits have us on edge, nervously watching for any sign he may explode into anger and violence at any moment. His evil grin (matching his father’s from movies over the years) scares us. But no matter what he says or does throughout the film, we know the character is a complete psychopath. Whether it’s committing unprovoked murder during the bank robbery or threatening Sherry at various stages, Simon is the nastiest of the nasty. Much can be made of the surname, but Ray Nicholson not only emulates his famous father with his performance but invokes memories, showing the old adage, like father, like son, is accurate in this case. Nicholson is terrific, giving the film a villain that it deserves and needs.
By the time we reach the climax, Simon goes full-on psycho. We can believe that he isn’t fully sane, that his violent streak isn’t for show. That it is his whole being. His verbal sparring with Nate is playful while also coming across as sinister, and the final confrontation between the pair is rammed full of violence, most of it, as can be expected of a film of this kind, one-sided in Simon’s favour. We already know that it will get resolved in Nate’s favour, but we don’t know how it will be resolved or in what manner. When it comes, it is shocking. Nicholson and Quaid also play off each other extremely well, giving the film some of its best moments during the runtime of the film. The film also proves that Nicholson, like Amber Midthunder, has a huge and successful career ahead of him.
SUPPORTING CAST
The supporting cast, while not having too much to do in some cases, equally impress. Betty Gabriel, as Mincy Langston, an officer of the SDPD, gets the most out of the film. Her attempts to track down Nate after the robbery and Nate’s chase after Sherry’s abductors are sincere and, at times, quite funny. Matt Walsh as Coltraine Duffy, an officer of the SDPD and Langston’s partner, gets some of the best comedic lines in the film. Walsh has us laughing when he appears on the screen, and his delivery of one particular line of dialogue, reminding us of Airplane, is inspired.
Jacob Batalon, as Roscoe Dixon, Nathan’s online gaming friend, provides the support at times that Quaid’s character sorely needs. He also provides some genuine laughs along the way that again elevates the material above the usual fare. His exaggerations of who and what he is and what he possesses have us in fits of giggles when he appears onscreen. This is also the case when all we hear is his voice and verbal putdowns to Nate. The screenplay allows him and Quaid to form a bond that becomes the crux of the film. Batalon has come a long way since playing Ned Leeds in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies, and he proves that his career will soar.
DIRECTION AND WRITING
The direction from Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, as well as the screenplay from Lars Jacobson, are inspired. Berk and Olsen deliver a high-octane, at times, action comedy that almost hits every note it needs to. The fast-paced action, violence, gore and comedy are handled deftly, making the film an enjoyable, if completely improbable, ride for its 110-minute running time. It is shot and framed well, and the pairing knows how to handle every aspect of the film.
This wouldn’t be possible without Jacobson’s punchy, crisp, and winning screenplay. The writer takes a movie trope that has been done before and turns it around, giving it a whole new lease of life and a much-needed reinvigoration. While some elements do feel familiar, they don’t get in the way of the sheer fun we experience with the film. In fact, they, at times, feel fresh and new. It is improbable but, without a doubt, never less than fun.
VERDICT
Violent and gory, with some huge laughs and superb performances from Jack Quaid and Ray Nicholson, Novocaine is terrific entertainment. The film also has heart, something we wouldn’t expect from a movie like this. What we think should happen and the direction the film should go in is turned on its head to become something that blows us away. It is also something that is completely satisfying, something that we enjoy even in the slower moments. When the film started, I got deja vu, thinking that the slow set-up was similar to Die Hard. Both films don’t give us any hint about what’s going to happen when the bullets start flying. But when they do, we are hooked. And we are suddenly on a rollercoaster ride that goes from 0-100 pretty damn fast.
READY FOR YOUR SHOT OF NOVOCAINE?
Despite some sequences that have us taking a sharp intake of breath, as what we see is pretty nasty at times, we can’t tear our eyes from the screen. Instead, we watch in fascinated awe, knowing that the next joke or comedic moment is mere seconds away. It is all wrapped in a brilliantly entertaining bow that is the perfect entertainment for the masses. Can there be a sequel? What do you think? Of course, there could be. If it happens (and i hope it does) then i’m definately up for a second shot of Nathan Caine. As it is, you can’t go wrong by taking a trip to the cinema to see it. Nathan Caine can’t feel pain. Neither will you as you sit back and enjoy what is on offer. As for me, I’m already set and ready for another viewing and another shot of Novocaine.
Novocaine will be in UK cinemas starting Friday, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
