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A dark comedy that might not be everyone's cup of tea. If you're able to suspend belief and just go with the absurdity of the situations, Novocaine delivers a decent amount of entertainment.

The pacing is strong, with the film keeping a brisk pace that never lingers too long on one thing. It's filled with bizarre twists that are often more laughable than believable, but that's part of its fun. The performances are engaging in a way that helps you overlook the more painful elements.

Ultimately, if you're in the mood for something offbeat with a good pace and a laughable yet strangely compelling plot, Novocaine might be worth checking out. Just don't expect anything too grounded or serious.

Novocaine is a fast-paced action-comedy that delivers a huge dose of fun, as long as you don't take it too seriously. It's built on a genuinely original premise: the main character has congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), a real and rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling any physical pain.

This setup gives the film a fantastic opportunity for some pretty gruesome and innovative action sequences, so it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. It's the kind of role that feels tailor-made for Jack Quaid, who perfectly captures the chaotic energy of the character.

There's nothing too deep to think about here. This is a film that asks you to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride. With good production values and a plot that moves too quickly to get bogged down in any script absurdities (of which there are probably many), it's easy to do just that.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a wild, funny, and creative action flick and are happy to check your brain at the door, Novocaine is a great choice.

Nate, also known by his childhood nickname Novocaine, lives with CIPA, a condition that means he cannot feel any pain, but also lives a somewhat quiet life. Things get better for Nate when he meets Sherry, and begins to fall in love with her, unfortunately during a robbery she is kidnapped, he does whatever it takes to get her back.

I can't lie, I was looking forward to this, the storyline really did appeal to me, I love the idea of CIPA being used as a plot device, a nice idea, unfortunately it doesn't quite work.

It's an action thriller come black comedy, the trouble is it doesn't know what it wants to be, and it blurs between daft, violent thriller and lame attempt to copy Die Hard.

The shoot 'em up sequences were so bad, once again we have Police who have issues with aiming guns, it just feels daft, with poor Nate slotted in as some sort of mortal superhero.

Jack Quaid is actually really good, I hate dissing the film because he puts in a good performance, but he's up against it with a weak script and confused narrative.

There are some further positives, the tattoos are immense, I'll say that, truly a work of art and the movie's general pacing is good, it does actually move by quickly, sadly it's all a bit jumbled.

5/10.

I saw Novocaine early as this week's selection for Marcus's Mystery Movie. I had already planned on watching it so I was happy with the choice. And while I enjoyed the experience, it feels like most of the other 2025 releases I've seen: good but not great.

The premise is interesting and is used somewhat well. The action scenes are solid. The comedic attempts are hit or miss. I laughed at some but others fell flat. And my investment/engagement was... medium?

I can't fully explain why it didn't work better. Maybe it's because none of the aspects excel. Maybe it's because the entire cast outside of the lead is weak (most of them are TV actors, not movie actors).

I just didn't feel that spark. I definitely didn't mind watching it. But it's not something memorable that I see myself revisiting.

Hopefully 2025 can turn itself around because this is the worst start to the year I can remember.

P. S. Someone brought a noisy baby to my screening so my experience was a bit tainted. Some people are so inconsiderate.

(1 viewing, early screening Marcus Mystery Movie 3/3/2025)

We caught Novocaine on Monday Mystery Movie night, and what a ride it was! Starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder, the film starts off almost like a RomCom in the first act-then the second act hits, and it's zoom zoom zoom from there.

This movie is absolutely bonkers, bringing to mind the chaotic energy of Crank (2006). It fully delivers on its promise of an R-rated action/thriller/comedy, with plenty of strong language and graphic violence.

It was definitely a good time, and I'd recommend it to fans of this kind of wild ride-though maybe not for the squeamish.

Enjoy it peeps!

Cheerio!!!

Greetings again from the darkness. In decades past, we wouldn't have been surprised in the least to see a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Dennis Quaid. In fact, in 1973 Jack co-starred with Dennis' brother Randy in one of my favorite films, THE LAST DETAIL. Well, here we are more than fifty years later, and Dennis' (and Meg Ryan's) son Jack Quaid is co-starring with Jack's son Ray Nicholson in what is sure to be one of this year's most outlandish action-comedies. The screenplay is by Lars Jacobson and the film is co-directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who also collaborated on BODY (2015).

REM's "Everybody Hurts" plays over the opening credits and sequence which provide hints to the measures Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid, COMPANION, 2025) has taken around his house. With tennis balls shielding sharp corners and a stop to prevent scalding water in the shower, Nathan appears to be quite accident-prone. We learn he's a good-guy Assistant Manager at a local San Diego bank, and profiles as nebbish in his looks and skittish mannerisms ... especially around new bank teller Sherry (Amber Midthunder, THE ICE ROAD, 2021). Sensing his awkwardness and attraction, Sherry takes charge and asks Nathan to lunch. A bite of cherry pie leads Nathan to disclose his rare genetic disorder - he simply cannot feel pain (thus explaining the earlier tennis balls).

One personal disclosure leads to another, which leads to an art gallery, which leads to romantic intimacy and what easily could spin off into a familiar quirky rom-com with these two. Instead, while Nathan is riding an emotional high, three men dressed as Santa Claus violently rob the bank on Christmas Eve and take Nathan's new squeeze Sherry as hostage. This sends our wimpy superhero Nathan (nicknamed Novocaine by junior high bullies) on a rescue mission. His previous fighting experience has been limited to online video game sessions with Roscoe (Jacob Batalon, Ned from Marvel movies), although the two have never actually met.

The fight sequences are quite violent and absurdly comical in how they take advantage of Nathan's blend of physical disorder, nice guy tendencies, and commitment to rescuing his first love. Creativity is at maximum volume as Nathan takes on a red-hot frying pan and boiling oil in a restaurant kitchen skirmish, replete with bodily poundings that would leave anyone else shattered. Things really pick up in a wickedly booby-trapped house that sets up a HOME ALONE joke. Mostly, however, the body horror serves as punchline after punchline ... some surely to tweak even the most squeamish movie goers.

Ray Nicholson (I LOVE YOU FOREVER, 2024) provides a jolt of adrenaline and psychotic violent behavior to ensure no one watching still believes this is a rom-com in the making. His Simon thrives not so much on the money from the robberies as the power and control he displays and the torture he doles out. The finale battles between Simon and Nathan are extreme and creatively unique. While the entertainment value is present, there are still some minor issues with the story and proceedings. The detectives on the case are played by Betty Gabriel (GET OUT, 2017) and Matt Walsh ("Veep"). These two talented actors are given very little to do and it's a shame their roles weren't beefed up a bit. Additionally, there is a key twist that will surprise almost no one. Is it even a twist if they tell you it's coming?

The action scenes are purposefully absurd, and although some bits are over-the-top, others are pure comedy-action brilliance. Jack Quaid is fitting right in to his lead character roles, and Ray Nicholson is mastering the wild-eyed psycho dude. Amber Midthunder shows yet again how immensely talented she is, and it's likely her future roles will take advantage of what she brings on screen. My personal biggest hope is that the filmmakers avoid a sequel ... one which would likely leave us viewers disappointingly numb (had to work in one pun).

Opens in theaters on March 14, 2025.

"Imagine if "Home Alone" grew up, got a medical condition that made it impervious to pain, and then decided to rescue a kidnapped crush by essentially becoming a human crash test dummy. Jack Quaid is fantastic as he takes every punch, stab, and vehicular impact like a champ, making you wince for him even as he's just shrugging it off. It's a good film for what it is overall. It's gloriously gory and surprisingly sweet. If you like your action with a side of "ouch, that's gotta hurt!" and a healthy dose of dark humor, then this one's for you. An 8/10 for making me feel all the pain so he didn't have to.

6/10 STARS - Novocaine was on my list of most anticipated for the year, and I got the chance to watch it in early March for Regal's March 3rd Monday Mystery Movie. It stars Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder and is about a guy who can't feel physical pain/sensations who embarks on a rescue mission after the girl he likes is kidnapped during a bank robbery. There were several things to enjoy about this movie - the premise was interesting and it was comedic to see some of the situations he got himself into during his rescue mission. While I didn't hate this film, I wasn't super in love with it, which surprised me because the trailer made it look pretty fun. Part of the problem is, I think, the casting of Jack Quaid - who seems to play the same type of character in most of his roles - and the writing of the love interest could have probably been improved in ways to make her character a bit more likable. An unnecessary racially divisive line snuck in at the end was nonsensical too. But as a whole, I've seen worse movies, so I don't consider this a waste of my time. Just wish it could have been a bit better. Video review to come shortly.

The concept is great, but it gets old quickly. It's what happens when you have a good concept but poor execution, bad story, and boring action sequences. They could've done so much with it, but it just doesn't really deliver both from the comedic standpoint and action standpoint.

Compare to movies of similar genre of action comedy like Nobody, this film just seems very generic, cliche, and incoherent. It gets worse as it goes, the beginning was actually quite good. By the ending it was just a mess, multiple fake endings making you wish each time it would just end already.

The characters and story inconsistency makes it really hard to follow or believe.

4/10.

Novocaine meaningfully shows the extent you would go to save who you care about. It's filled with hopes, amid lots of action that could easily annihilate the underdog at any moment. There's some romance, more violence, and much more audience concern for the wellbeing of the intended rescuer. As part of displaying heartless crime, be forewarned that Novacaine lacks positive humor. The twists and reveals are nicely unpredictable, though.

Best seen with others for how many challenges and opportunities are dramatized. It's less about guessing what's next, and more about relating and somehow surviving, with the main character's hopes and standards intact.

Nate (Jack Quaid) is a mild-mannered bank employee with a genetic disorder. He can feel no pain. It sounds like a superpower, but the problem is that he can seriously injure himself without realising the fact. As a result he leads an extremely risk-averse life. All sharp edges in his home are padded, he avoids solid food for fear of biting his tongue in half, and he sets an alarm on his watch to remind him to go to the bathroom, because his bladder might burst if he forgets.

As a result, he lives a rather lonely life, playing video games with a friend he's never met face to face. That's until he falls for fellow employee Sherry (Amber Midthunder). Maybe things are looking up?

Then the bank is held up by three armed raiders, who get away with a lot of money plus a hostage - Sherry. Nate gives chase - leading him into a series of perils and adventures. He's not helped by the fact that the police aren't sure which side he's on.

The result is stupid (in a good way) but great fun, as Nate receives a series of increasingly-bizarre injuries without them slowing him down at all. There are enough twists to make things interesting, and enough comedy to make this film an enjoyable watch.

Idk, the writing was horrendous. It was so basic and ... it felt like a film school graduate fresh out of school submitted a formulaic script he wrote and thankfully he knew somebody who knew somebody and got it made.

By the way, the lead actor, he was too goofy. He became annoying during his first scene in the restaurant kitchen. Cracking jokes while fighting all of a sudden? So cringey and corny.

I like that the movie was gory and it should've been given the subject.

I also like the twist. The cinematography was ok as well.

But I have a question-just because he's numb to pain, does that mean he doesn't die? If you get shot and don't feel it, ok, but doesn't the body still feel affected? I mean you're losing blog, have torn arteries, and maybe injures organs. Too cringey.

Overall, this is a skip. Wait for it to come on streaming.

Okay, this was a police drama suspense, but with comedy. Not a harpooning, nor a parody or spoof. Not sure I've ever seen anything like that before.

It is very cool the female lead, Amy Midthunder, is an actual member of the Sioux Tribe out of NM. A cutie pie and pretty good young actress. Very nice.

Okay, the premise gave us more than a clue as to some crazy stuff. It's was okay. Some of that funny. (Fingernail removal torture, and our lead having to fake Pain.) But the best? Don't know why, after our hero's video game buddy came to rescue him, when he ran out to escape on his buddy's Harley;, and they flashed the picture that Vespa, I laughed out loud. Not just a Vespa, but an old, used, dirty piece of junk that was "misfiring" on its only cylinder; and smoking like a chimney. His getaway attempt didn't last long. Pretty good slapstick that actually worked.

I didn't expect much from this movie. So since my expectations were low, it obviously exceeded them. The twist toward the end was pretty good.

Pretty good departure in many ways. I figure a 7 is a fair score.

Bob R.

I thought the reviews were a bit hard on the movie. And they kind of are, but kind of aren't, I guess.

If you turn your brain completely off it can be relatively fun. There is a lot of action, there is the chase, there is gore, there is some silliness. The humor could have been closer to Deadpool franchise, IMHO, but it was not even close, and was kind of mediocre for the most part.

If you do turn you brain on, you probably will notice some inconsistencies here and there. Like, people in banks are generally instructed to comply with robbers' requests (source: worked in a bank for 12 years). And people with CIPA probably would still be affected by an electric shock.

I do not think you are meant to turn your brain on. You are supposed to enjoy the shenanigans on the screen and somewhat decent soundtrack. And then forget everything you so within the next couple of hours. Sometimes, that's enough.

Alright, let's talk about Novocaine. I went into this one with some pretty high hopes, especially after seeing that trailer. Man, that trailer made it look like it was going to be something truly special, a real standout. Unfortunately, while the story itself is genuinely good, the execution left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. It's not a bad movie by any means, but it just didn't quite live up to its full potential.

The core concept and narrative threads in Novocaine are fantastic. Seriously, the story is genuinely compelling and well-conceived. There are some really interesting ideas at play, and the premise had me hooked from the get-go. You can tell there's a strong foundation here, with clever twists and turns that could have made for an incredibly engaging cinematic experience. The characters, too, have a lot of promise, and you can see the potential for deep emotional resonance.

However, where Novocaine stumbles is in its delivery. The execution felt a bit flat, lacking that punch or polish that would elevate it from good to great. There were moments where the pacing felt off, and some scenes didn't quite land with the impact they should have. It's like the filmmakers had a brilliant blueprint but then rushed a bit in the construction phase.

And that brings me to one of my main gripes: the plot feels incredibly rushed. Things happen so quickly that you don't always have time to fully process the implications or truly connect with the characters' journeys.

Important developments often feel glossed over, leading to a sense of "wait, that just happened?" It's a shame because with a bit more breathing room, those pivotal moments could have had so much more weight and emotional depth. It felt like the film was ticking off plot points rather than letting the story organically unfold.

This hurried pace also contributes to the feeling that the movie isn't as special as the trailer made it out to be. The trailer promised a certain level of intensity, intrigue, and perhaps even a unique visual style, but the final product often falls short of those expectations. It's frustrating when a trailer sets such a high bar, and the movie, while decent, doesn't quite clear it.

So, where does that leave us? For me, Novocaine lands at a solid 6/10. It's definitely watchable, and if you're a fan of the genre or the actors involved, you might still find enjoyment in it. The strong underlying story is enough to keep you engaged, but be prepared for an experience that doesn't quite hit the highs you might be hoping for. It's a movie that had all the ingredients for something truly memorable but just couldn't quite nail the recipe.

If Novocaine wasn't so extremely violent and incredibly bloody, I would call it 'lighthearted': it's frivolous, humorous, a touch romantic and often ridiculous. And it's also quite a lot of fun.

Jack Quaid stars as assistant bank manager Nathan 'Novocaine' Caine, who, thanks to a rare genetic disorder, is unable to feel physical pain. When armed criminals rob the bank, taking Nate's new girlfriend Sherry (Amber Midthunder) hostage, he attempts to track down the gang and rescue the girl.

The film's gimmick - that mild-mannered Nathan can be shot, burnt, beaten and broken and not feel the effect - makes for a very entertaining action film, even if, truth be told, the humour doesn't always land. One might expect the novelty to quickly wear off, but writer Lars Jacobson manages to keep it from becoming stale, finding plenty of new and creative ways to inflict damage on his central character.

If you've caught the trailer, which revealed far too much, the impact of certain scenes will probably be diminished, but there is at least one major twist, which they thankfully didn't give away in the previews, that adds an extra level of interest to the story.

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for opening with Everybody Hurts by R. E. M. (although Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb would have worked as well).

When I saw the trailer, I thought it was a weird idea for a film, but after watching it last night, I was 100% on board with it! Jack Quaid (who looks exactly like his dad) is a joy to watch! He plays this role with just the right amount of naivete and wonder at what is going on as he tries to find the. Girl he hopes will be his girlfriend. Oh, and he can't feel pain. After a bank robbery gone wrong and the kidnapping of the girl he loves, he goes through a rollercoaster of situations, in an attempt to save her. This film is an A+ in my opinion, and I hope to see Jack in many more roles. The side characters are great as well. Like the lead detective who slowly realizes that Jack is just trying to do the right thing the wrong way. Like picking up his mobile phone after stealing a cop car! This movie is fast paced but you love each and every moment of it.

Novocaine has an interesting concept, some half decent acting, and a decent script. Everything centres around a mild mannered introverted type of guy, Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) that cannot feel pain - "congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP)" - and the comical opportunities that arise from this.

It sort of reminds me of Wolverine's "Regenerative Healing Factor" but dialed down for a more everyday guy. With the wolverine films you get to see numerous funny scenarios that exhibit his regeneration abilities. This film is a bit similar to that.

Is this film especially groundbreaking? No. Does it have inconsistencies? Yes, certain painful stimuli should cause serious injury regardless of whether Novocaine feels anything or not. Is it a fun 1hr 50? Mostly, yes. But it felt as if they could have concluded things earlier than they did. Overall I'd give it a light recommendation.

7/10.

Enjoyable moments but if you aren't here for the action it isn't worth it. Characters are very flat, can't say I enjoyed the writing or directing much. It suffers from the common curse of new cinema of over saturation and being far too dark in low light scenes. The main character is endearing but also just is not good as it could of been. I wish the writing was more thoughtful, more dark comedy in relation to his circumstances would of been nice, they should of leaned into that more then the action. There are many notable names in this film and also instances of actors following a character trope they've been known to play, it feels very over done. If all of this is your cup of tea though have at it.

I really enjoyed the movie. Jack Quaid is amazing as I expected, the action is awesome and brutal. I love all the little details of actually having this disease, little sticky tack on the pencils, setting a timer so your blather doesn't explode, just the little things that also point out that the disease is not something cool. He's a normal person that just can't feel pain and it leads to really awesome fights. I don't see the sound getting more attention, especially in a theater all the gun shots have the weight, all the punches and bone snapping you can feel deep in your chest. Would very much recommend it and would like a sequel.

There have been several movies titled "Novocaine", one with Steve Martin as a dentist, but each is a different story, as this one is too.

Jack Quaid is the main character, Nate, about 30 and working at a bank. He has a particular condition, we find out about it when he is at lunch with a pretty co-worker. She offers him a bite of pie but he refused, he says "I can't eat solid food." The reason is, his genetic condition prevents him from feeling pain, if he eats solid food he could bite his tongue off and never feel it.

Eventually he relents, enjoys the bite of pie, but his condition plays a key role in the rest of the story.

At work one day, three men dressed in Santa costumes come in, display guns, announce they are there to rob the bank. Things get out of hand quickly, people are killed, there is a car chase, and much more blood and gore.

The main bad guy is Ray Nicholson, son of Jack, as Simon. I had not seen him before in a movie, he plays a despicable character and plays him well and with much vigor.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. Jack Quaid has to carry the movie and he does it very well. We were entertained but many scenes were so gore-filled that we found them difficult to watch. As a movie it isn't that good, but we were entertained.

Clearly, when I sat down to watch this movie, I wasn't expecting to see "The Godfather" or "Apocalypse Now," I fully understand that.

I was expecting something like "John Wick" or "Nobody," something unpretentious and easy to think about.

It was clearly more in line with the latter than the former, so "Novocaine" is a movie to pass the time.

However, I don't think it lives up to its target demographic.

We have an interesting premise, but it remains just that.

Jack Quaid, who plays Hughie from "The Boys," is the exact same role, and despite having good supporting actors in the roles, they are never fully utilized.

So what do we have? An entertaining movie, with plenty of gore, fun action scenes, but no soul.

Just as "Crank," another film in the same vein, became a cult favorite, I highly doubt this one will ever achieve it or even come close.

That aside, there's nothing else to say.

If you need to pass the time, it might be entertaining, but in this demographic, there are much more interesting options.

This movie drags on. There is no way these characters can go through what they go through without being super heroes. This movie needed serious edits. Don it waste your time.

Mmm.

This movie drags on. There is no way these characters can go through what they go through without being super heroes. This movie needed serious edits. Don it waste your time.

Mmm.

This movie drags on. There is no way these characters can go through what they go through without being super heroes. This movie needed serious edits. Don it waste your time.

Mmm.

This movie drags on. There is no way these characters can go through what they go through without being super heroes. This movie needed serious edits. Don it waste your time.

Mmm.

Not sure who is target audience for this one. Gory and graphic enough to restrict it for adults and inteligence insulting to make it suitable for tweens only.

I'm not keen on action comedy or horror comedy genres, I want to be thrilled or scared by what I'm watching. Not to sit through lame jokes and slapstick entwined into a movie.

The script is ridiculous and predictable, no suspense, really - and quite original concept is wasted in this case.

I had good fun in one moment only, when protagonist's illness is named - CIPA.

You need to be Polish to get this joke.

I have watched the movie till its end, so it's not a complete lemon, but still...