Review: Novocaine

Directed by: Dan Berk & Robert Olsen

Written by: Lars Jacobson

Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Jacob Batalon

Rating: [3/5]

The ability to feel pain is innately animalistic in the way we know the damage caused and how to appropriately react. We know not to put our hands on a hot stove because of the pain it causes us when our flesh touches the surface and the impact it therefore inflicts on us. Not having pain receptors would make for a different way one would live their life, which Novocaine seeks to display and does in entertaining style. 

Physically unable to feel pain, Nathan (Jack Quaid) lives his life carefully, trying to avoid activity that may cause him injury without realizing it. After a group of thieves robs the credit union where he works and kidnaps his co-worker and love interest Sherry (Amber Midthunder), he decides he needs to step up and utilize his particular condition to his advantage to save her. 

Living the way Nathan does makes him think through life in ways no one would possibly perceive to view the most mundane elements of everyday living. His inability to feel any sort of pain makes him not eat any real solids because he would not know if he’s choking on something until it’s too late. Something as simple as eating, which really makes one appreciate the way the human body operates without us giving it much thought. It presents a level of inhumanity to Nathan because of the inextricable connection pain sensitivity has to our living, nearly relegating the guy to a completely different species. While different, this condition presents the opportunity to step up in getting Sherry back because he may not fight better than these thieves, but he can certainly take more physical punishment than them. 

As Nathan continues his pursuit, the film relishes in taking its premise and utilizing it in bone-crunching and wincing ways. From Nathan punching glass to then use as a weapon to utilizing hot oil to his advantage, it gets quite violent and undoubtedly quite enjoyable to experience. We know how painful it would be to do these things, but nothing can phase our protagonist on a physical level. It continually catches everyone in the film by surprise and rightfully so, only allowing the for comedic moments of realization of what Nathan can and cannot feel. 

While on his own journey in trying to save Sherry from these thieves, Nathan must also contend with the police suspecting him as the perpetrator in all of this, leading to some good moments between him and detective Mincy Langston (Betty Gabriel). It only makes this pursuit more difficult overall. This combined with some interesting twists that happen later on in the film ensures that this narrative contains more than just its gimmick to entertain audiences. 

Making a name for himself for some time now, Novocaine puts plenty of stock in Jack Quaid as a leading man to test out if he has what it takes. Quaid usually signs on for and portrays characters that have an everyman quality to them. A distinct brand of nice guy that anyone would find likeable, so much so that recent films have even used his persona as a way to subvert narrative expectations. In this film, he plays second fiddle to none with this being his film through and through, and he does a decent job. He brings the necessary humor to the role while also standing on his own two feet in playing this leading man. He’s certainly got this archetype locked down, which does make me wonder if he will continue on this gravy train or try to stretch himself in future roles. 

Not something to write home about but nonetheless quite entertaining, Novocaine presents us a circumstance that poses plenty of questions and surely provides answers, such as if someone like him who cannot feel pain could feel physical arousal. Admittedly, I did not think of that, but the film ensured we got the truth behind that thought. It throws in just enough reveals to keep things interesting and ultimately serves as a leading man vehicle for Jack Quaid. This film will not have much staying power in the long run, but if someone wants an action comedy with a likeable lead possessing an intriguing disability, then this film has exactly what you are looking for.