No pain, it is okay! Novocaine is an action-comedy thriller that has non-stop action and non-stop jokes. Jack Quaid continues to sell another quirky character but with a particular set of skills—rather, a rare condition. Quaid’s Nathan Caine is an introverted gamer who is diagnosed with congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). Essentially, this condition means he cannot feel pain like the average human being. He is the assistant manager of a bank, and he is seen helping people with their finances as much as he can.
Things take a turn when Nathan’s new hiree, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), is taken hostage by a group of robbers robbing his bank. To make matters more complicated, Nathan and Sherry recently began dating. Using his special ability to not feel pain, Nathan will go through all the lengths and gunfire to save his special someone.
The storytelling of Novacaine is not as linear as other films of this genre. It paces like films with one-man superhero vibes, such as Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine’s Crank or Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade. The one aspect that sets Novocaine apart from others is how it subverts expectations with its twists and turns. It is not earth-shattering M. Night Shyamalan-level twists, but twists do not always have to be that shocking. They can be clever, too.
A standout part of the narrative that drives this film is the time it spends with its main character. A lot of the time, main characters get overshadowed by b-plots but this is not one of those cases. Quaid does a fantastic job playing the geeky, overly cautious type well again. It feels like this is Quaid’s crutch and crux; he is really good at playing these caricatures of characters—as seen in his role on The Boys. Arguably, it works for him though. He almost plays the same kind of character in Scream, and it serves that story’s twist phenomenally. Ultimately, Quaid makes Nathan one of the more believable “loner who finally finds love” characters.
Another person who sells Nathan’s personality is his online in-game best friend Roscoe, played by Jacob Batalon (Tarot, Spider-Man: No Way Home). Again, Batalon is another actor who is typecasted a lot for playing the sidekick to the protagonist but does it well. However, Batalon deserves his time to shine in a leading role.
Roscoe is a funny and endearingly courageous character to complement Nathan, but who could easily be used more as a deus ex machina device for the story. But Novocaine exhibits its ability to subvert expectations. Roscoe comes up clutch when he needs to save his online best friend and does it in a way that is realistic and fun.
Ray Nicholson as the pseudo-leader of the bank robbers, Simon, is an intriguing antagonist to Nathan. The story does not explain how this man can take gunshots and a lot of beating, other than he was in the military. It is a legitimate reason as to why he can bear the pain, but it begins to become questionable near the end of the movie. Still, Nicholson’s acting in this role is a great example of balancing the crazy with the charm and physicality of a villain.
“The cherries on top of Novocaine are the stunts, fights and set design.”
For someone who can take the most physical human injuries without flinching, Nathan is put through some gruesome body torture. The makeup and special effects team deserve a major shoutout. While it takes a lot for me to flinch, the audience around me was squirming in their seats during some of the scenes. If self-harm and body disfigurement are not things you like to see, Novocaine may not be the movie you want to see—even if these elements are used for comedic purposes.
The cherries on top of Novocaine are the stunts, fights and set design. The stunts get more insane toward the final act, especially when vehicles get involved. The fights are well-choreographed and lean into the dynamic aspects of using a unique style of fighting that only someone who does not feel pain could do. The set design deserves recognition in this film for 2-3 locations where the environment adds to the danger factor for Nathan. It ratchets up the action and tension behind what Nathan comes up with to win his fights.
Factoring in everything, Novocaine is a fun ride that is as wholesome as it is a bloody good time. From the choreography of the fights to the charming on-screen chemistry to the excessive levels of bodily harm, this is a well-made action-comedy film. The storytelling can have some convenient plot holes, but the actors convincingly sell the question of the movie: how far can one go for the one they love? Anyone who has ever loved someone would know.
Whether you are looking for a wild film with the boys or an off-the-beaten-path date night movie, Novocaine works to serve both audiences. Just make sure your friends or date can handle the blood and see the human anatomy get beaten and battered.
