Rating: 6.8/10
**This review contains spoilers.**
Painful but painless — these words may sound absurd, but they are the perfect way to describe the movie “Novocaine.” Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, this action-comedy showcases how a rare, dangerous physiological condition can be transformed into a superpower of sorts.
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The film follows the main character, Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), an introverted, dorky assistant manager in a San Diego credit union, setting out to rescue the girl he likes. His action journey unexpectedly starts after his crush, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), is held hostage by bank robbers.
Despite the cliché premise of a hero saving his love interest, Nathan is the opposite of a hero people would expect. He has congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis, a rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling pain.
It may sound like he is invincible, but Nathan’s condition makes him vulnerable and forces him to live more cautiously. He still gets hurt; he just doesn’t realize it.
The audience frequently sees his cautious lifestyle in the movie’s first half. For instance, Nathan cannot eat solid food because he might bite his tongue off without noticing. His doctor doesn’t expect him to live past 25.
After a bank robbery, Nathan finds a reason to use his condition as a superpower and risks his life to chase down and fight the culprits.
This strong contrast between the careful, shy Nathan and the later fearless Nathan sets the film apart from regular action movies.
In terms of action, “Novocaine” doesn’t hold back on violent and intense fight scenes — almost half the film is pure action. Unlike others, Nathan’s strategy to kill the robbers involves hurting himself, like burning his hand in boiling oil. These moments evoke more pain in the audience than Nathan himself — sometimes to the point of disgust.
As an action-comedy, the humor in “Novocaine” comes from its characters. Quaid’s performance is the standout aspect of this film. He makes Nathan likable by showing his kindness, like when he repeatedly apologizes to the robbers while beating them up.
It adds several funny elements to intense fight scenes and highlights the character’s lovely personality rather than toughness.
Despite his strong performance in “Novocaine,” Quaid seems to act similarly in his other works, including Hughie from the Amazon superhero show “The Boys” or Josh from “Companion.” It’s a shame that viewers don’t get the chance to see him try out new characters as he restrains himself in this “the-boy-next-door” frame.
Another issue is the lack of proper development of the characters’ relationships. Nathan technically only has one-day interactions with Sherry, but he already claims he would risk his life for her. The narrative is pushed too fast, not convincing enough for the viewers to understand Nathan’s motivations.
In a Hollywood-style plot twist, Sherry is revealed to be an accomplice of the operation who has been taking advantage of Nathan. He forgives her as if nothing had happened despite the betrayal. All of these questionable narrative choices and relationship developments don’t add up.
However, the film effectively weaves in detailed elements, such as its title, to reinforce its theme. The anesthetic, commonly used in dental health care to numb pain, perfectly aligns with Nathan’s role as the human “novocaine.”
Though the film struggles due to an unconvincing plot, it’s still a thrilling action-comedy that doesn’t feel boring or long.
If you’re looking for an intense action movie that’s still funny, “Novocaine” is a great choice. But if you’re looking for a less painful, bloody cinematic experience, viewers won’t find it here. After all, no one can feel painless throughout the film — only Nathan Caine.
