‘Novocaine’ review: Jack Quaid movie leans into silliness, but will make you feel sick
Jack Quaid has become a beloved fixture in the action-comedy genre, particularly with the success of the Prime Video series The Boys, and now extending to the new movie Novocaine (now in theatres). Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, also featuring Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Van Hengst, Conrad Kemp and Jacob Batalon, this is a silly and gory film to start you off with some fun for the weekend, with a sprinkle of love story.
If you’re a fan of the John Wick-style films, Novocaine won’t disappoint, but also leans into the familiar beats you’re expecting. And there’s no denying Quaid’s charm as the underdog leading man.
What is ‘Novocaine’ about?
Novocaine begins like the start of any great rom-com.
While Nate (Quaid), usually keeps to himself at work as an assistant bank manager, his office crush Sherry (Midthunder), convinces him to gets him to embrace more human connection, going out on a lunch date together.
But Nate has a season for being someone who sticks to the same morning routine and doesn’t come out for communal lunches at work. He has congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), a rare condition that results in Nate not being able to feel pain.
Not having revealed to Sherry that he has CIPA, when she orders a piece of cherry pie, Nate says he doesn’t want any food, eventually revealing his condition to Sherry. But she thinks Nate should expand his horizons, urging him to each a bit of her pie, reassuring him that she’ll be watching to make sure he doesn’t bite his tongue.
In some stories this is where the romance starts, but for Nate, it’s different.
When robbers storm into the bank and take Sherry hostage, Nate wants to spring into action to try to save her.
All about Jack Quaid
The film is really a vessel to showcase Quaid, and he does a great job with the material. He has an infectious charm that quickly puts you on Nate’s side. He’s also an actor that can handle the goofiness of a story like Novocaine, where so much of the film is setting up moments to shock the audience with the torture Nate endures in his quest to save Sherry.
Novocaine pushes the limits of the comedy you can create from what mean to not experience pain. While it is worth noting that CIPA is very real and Novocaine isn’t moving the dial in terms of representing the impact on the lives of people living with the genetic disorder.
But a big flag is that the film is likely not a great fit for anyone who easily gets queasy from seeing blood, bodily harm and gruesome violence, or anyone who chooses to avoid movies that could cause those responses. There will be people shrieking in the theatre and hiding their eyes.
Novocaine includes one particular sequence where the abuse goes on maybe a bit too long, but kudos to the filmmakers for not leaving any stone unturned in terms of how many different torturous elements Nate can put his body through.
The movie likely won’t convert the goofy action-comedy haters into fans, but it definitely knows its lane. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s that popcorn movie where you go to the theatre to have a collective experience with the rest of the audience, laughing and feeling squeamish together.
