Last month, we got the first of the 2025 movie superheroes to arrive as the new Captain America threw his shield down the hallway of the multiplex (and hopefully “konked” the Red Hulk). Now we’ve got a few weeks until the second “wave” washes up with those THUNDERBOLTS, so what will tide the fans over till then, eh? How about a mild-mannered guy who doesn’t don spandex, fly, or even punch holes in concrete walls? Yes, he doesn’t have a real “super power,” but he’s got a lil’ “something special” that sets him apart from us. You may just figure out “his deal” by his nickname, which also happens to be the title of this new (not from a graphic novel or video game) action comedy thriller, so let’s give NOVOCAINE a shot (sorry, bad dental pun).
This dude’s actual name is Nathan “Nate” Caine (Jack Quaid), a “mild-mannered” thirty-something who is the assistant manager at a San Diego bank. We first meet him at the start of his work day at his modest apartment. Hmm, why do tennis ball covers adorn the door knobs and the edges of his tables (coffee and kitchen)? That’s something to ponder as he enjoys a banana and kale shake right out of the blender for breakfast. He’s at the bank early for a pre-Christmas “pep” talk from his boss. The only person who’s late is Nate’s unrequited “work crush,” a fetching new teller named Sherry (Amber Midthunder). Later, they encounter each other in the break room as she accidently bumps into him as he’s pouring very hot coffee into a mug filled with ice cubes (weird). Nate doesnt yell in agony as the liquid scalds his hands. Sherry feels so bad that she invites him to Lunch as an apology. At her favorite diner, she orders her usual cherry pie while Nate gets a vanilla milkshake. After many attempts to offer him a bite of her pie, Nate confesses to his “gift”. He has a medical condition that doesn’t allow him to feel pain. And now it’s only liquids, so he won’t somehow bite off his tongue (eww). And his watch alarm goes off every three hours to remind him to empty his bladder (again, eww). This doesn’t disgust Sherry; maybe it intrigues her, So they decide to meet later for drinks. Before that, Nate drops by his home for a quick online game while on the phone to his only pal, though they’ve never met in person, video game opponent Roscoe (Jacob Batalon). At the bar, Nate runs into an old school mate who reveals his middle school nickname, “Novocaine”. And yet Sherry goes home with Nate, and, well; let’s say he can feel pleasure. Things don’t get “weird” at work the next day until three heavily armed Santas waltz in and rob the place. They take Sherry hostage and force Nate to open the vault. The police arrive, but the trio has superior firepower and drives away in two vehicles. Nate is sure that they’ll murder Sherry unless he takes action by swiping the gun and car of the wounded cops. Can he get to her in time? And can his “power” somehow give him the advantage over the dangerous heist crew?
Let’s get this out of the way: the film has not one but two “nepo-babies” in its cast. One is the lead, Mr. Quaid, though he’s already made a name for himself in several films and TV shows before his big breakout role in Amazon Prime’s streaming hit “The Boys”, which happens to deal with enhanced folks (though he’s not one). Well, the role of Nate is the showcase that could propel him into “leading man” territory. And that’s great because Quaid is quite engaging here as a “nice guy” who is finally breaking free of the protective cocoon he’s wrapped around his body (and especially his heart). He conveys the soaring joy of new love and a chance for freedom, which fuels his surprising heroism. But Quaid also has a great knack for slapstick as he contorts himself to evade the thugs, much like the silent film “clowns”, before being propelled by the furious fists that do connect. In one sequence, he really shines as he feigns agony during torture to “buy some time”. His action “dancing” is superb, but he’s tenuous and tender with Ms. Midthunder (so great in the “should’ve-been-in-theatres” PREDATOR prequel PREY). She’s fun and flirty, as she interacts with this “odd duck” over pie and drinks even “special shots”). The two have a sweet chemistry in their “getting to know you” exchanges as Shirley finds Nate’s quirkyness attractive. But we’ve got to have the baddies, who are led by the other “NB”, Ray Nicholson, son of Jack, who flashes that demented grin as he unleashes all manner of mayhem on law enforcement and the determined Nate. Luckily, Nate gets some great back-up, just like Holland’s Spidey, from the funny Batalon, whose Roscoe “pumps us his persona” while being in a panic over his probable ties to Nate’s somewhat illegal pursuits. Which also raises the interest of two veteran cops, who are always a few steps behind, played by Betty Gabriel, who may be the “good cop” as she’s often sympathetic (while tracing a call from Nate), and Matt Walsh, not the “bad cop” but rather a really exhausted one, who only wants to wrap theings up and do Christmas with the “fam”.
This bit of high concept chaos was helmed by the “tag team” directing duo of Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who add lots of visual flourish to Lars Jacobson’s script. It’s an interesting twist on superhero tropes, though we can often feel its legacy, with Nate as a kid brother to Stanley Ipkess of THE MASK (he’s shy and smitten, too), mixed with DARKMAN and KICK-ASS, both without pain receptors. Some have made comparisons to Marvel’s THE WOLVERINE, though he’s got that self-healing mutant ability. Nate must constantly “self-repair” with bandages, ointments, “superglue,” and even staples. And then the loss of blood drains him so much that he needs a “jolt” from an EpiPen (much like Spinach for the OG superhero POPEYE). And that’s a big problem with the film as Berk and Olsen, go overboard with the painful slashing and stabbing, sadistically zooming in on Nate’s oozing injuries until the viewer is almost numb to each new bit of practical effect gore. It’s not helped by several “leaps of logic” (a “deep-fried” pistol still works) that get to pile up during the film’s tring 110-minute length, which affords it the opportunity to keep piling on endings and final showdowns (he’s down and…he’s up). Mind you, there’s a lot of charm in that engaging tender romance of Shirley and Nate, but it’s tossed aside for double and triple-crosses and squirm-inducing scenes of “emergency room” nightmares. Action fans will get their “John Wick-lite” fixes, and Quaid’s stunned reaction shots are pretty amusing, but the mayhem tends to get monotonous, making most moviegoers feel as though their keisters somehow got an extra-strong dose of NOVOCAINE.
2 Out of 4
NOVOCAINE is now playing in theatres everywhere
