‘Novocaine’ is a wild ride that’s not for the squeamish

By Ben Konuch

“Do you know what it’s like to wait your whole life to meet someone? Someone who finally gives your life meaning?”

The premise of “Novocaine” on the surface is incredibly simple – and that simplicity carries the film forward with a unique twist. Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), a bank-working everyman, has a special condition: he can’t feel pain. Enduring overprotective parents and bullying throughout his life, Caine yearns for connections with people while living a secluded life. Yet when he’s prompted to take a risk by going on a date with his coworker Sherry (Amber Midthunder), Caine realizes he may have met the girl of his dreams. 

The only thing that can bring him down is apparently an unexpected bank robbery turned hostage crisis that ends with Sherry kidnapped, prompting Caine to take the biggest risk of his life in pursuing them to justice on his own.

With the inability to feel pain, Caine has a unique advantage over his enemies. Weathering punches, stabs and gunshots alike without slowing, Caine must race against the clock to find Sherry before his body’s limits catch up to him. In one of the most pleasant surprises from the theater this year, “Novocaine” was a wild, hilarious adrenaline rush that was far better than its advertising suggested.

When I first heard the premise of “Novocaine,” I was hesitant. While it sounded entertaining enough, a film that relies too heavily on a unique mechanic can easily switch from clever to way too “gimmicky” and hollow. But carried here by the incredible performance of the irresistible Jack Quaid, “Novocaine” uses its twist for more than just a captivating pitch.

Caine’s inability to feel pain is woven into every fight sequence masterfully, producing intense and stomach-churning action while yielding perhaps the cleverest uses of the Chekhov’s gun principle in nearly every sequence. Paired with a wonderful directing style that feels more handheld and gritty than most modern action films, every fight scene is punchy, grounded and impactful – which is no small feat with a character who doesn’t react to the pain of each hit.

Not only is “Novocaine” entertaining with its pulse-pounding action, but also incredibly organically funny. Its jokes never feel forced or out of place, and the film knows when to embrace the laughs and when to drop them for the sake of tension to avoid being at odds with itself. 

This is in part due to Quaid’s portrayal of Caine, which feels so authentic and relatable even in impossible situations while weathering debilitating injuries. His range from deadpan delivery to exaggerated comedy had me laughing out loud multiple times in the theater, and I wasn’t the only one. 

Despite his well-executed comedy, Quaid also gives Caine a surprising earnestness and a deeply satisfying arc that sees him go from in-over-his-head to a bold confidence in himself and his abilities that’s a blast to watch.

Joining Quaid in “Novocaine” are Amber Midthunder as Sherry and Jacob Batalon as Roscoe, Caine’s only friend and online gaming partner. Batalon helps carry some of the comedy of the film despite being a relatively small role, and his previous role as Ned from the MCU “Spider-Man” films helped tone his comedic delivery in a way that lets him fit perfectly into this over-the-top role. Midthunder does well as Sherry, which is a wildly different character from her breakout role as Naru in “Prey,” but her versatility and range are on full display here for all of Sherry’s layers.

Perhaps most impressive about the film is the way the director duo Dan Berk and Robert Olsen craft such a well-executed balance between graphic violence and hilarious comedy in their first mainstream film. While the duo worked on small, independent films together before, “Novocaine” marks the first time the two have worked in the larger sphere of Hollywood, and you wouldn’t be able to tell. I think this lends a unique visual identity to the film, which simultaneously has the action and star-power of a big-budget blockbuster while adopting a unique filming and editing style that feels more guerrilla and underground than mainstream.

As a result, “Novocaine” feels small in the best possible ways. There are no frantic cuts in action sequences, all too often felt in current mainstream action blockbusters, no aerial shots or sweeping wide angle views. The camera moves up close and personal, lending both a grounded feeling to the action sequences and the quiet or comedic moments alike. As a result, Quaid takes center stage without ever feeling larger than life in a film that’s surprisingly down to earth.

Marked by a unique premise, visually stunning action with clever choreography and a phenomenal main lead in Jack Quaid, “Novocaine” is a surprisingly fantastic action comedy that never overstays its welcome. I saw certain twists coming in a way that felt narratively satisfying, less in a “this is cliche” way and more “I just realized exactly what they’re about to do and I love it” way. I wanted more once the credits rolled because of how well-made and well-portioned its entertainment was, and in an era of Hollywood defined by excess and over-abundance, I think that a smaller, down-to-earth action film with a larger than life premise is exactly what we need.

I give “Novocaine” a score of 8.5/10

“Novocaine” is now showing in theaters

Ben Konuch is a senior Strategic Communication student who serves as a writer for Cedars A&E and as their social media lead. He enjoys getting sucked into good stories, playing video games and swing dancing in the rain.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures