R | 1h 50m | Action, Crime, Drama, Comedy, Romance | 2025
For the second time in as many months, Jack Quaid plays the leading man in movies that have been applauded by critics and audiences alike. In the process, he’s finally shed the “nepo baby” (actor who benefits from nepotism) label that’s been affixed to him for well over a decade.
The only child of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, Quaid admittedly got a break at the start of his career (as have other nepo babies before him). But he wouldn’t have lasted this long had he not exhibited talent.
In January, Quaid starred in “Companion,” a comedic thriller where he played an initially likeable boyfriend of a girl but just proved to be a demented weasel. In “Novocaine,” Quaid stars as Nate, an unassuming assistant manager at a San Diego bank who has a secret crush on teller Sherry (Amber Midthunder, “Legion,” “Prey”). He’s petrified to let her know this, but gets lucky when she asks him out.
Socially Awkward
When off the clock, Nate plays video games online with Roscoe (Jacob Batalon), another socially awkward type he’s never met in the flesh. When Nate tells Roscoe he’s apprehensive about going out with Sherry, Roscoe delivers him a positive, uplifting pep talk that gives Nate the needed confidence to man up and go on the date.What neither Sherry nor Roscoe know just yet is that Nate suffers from the (very real) malady known as congenital analgesia (CIP), a condition that makes him impervious to pain. This might initially sound like a blessing, but pain is something that warns us of danger so, in reality, it’s a potentially lethal curse.
Three Santas
On Christmas Eve, the day after Nate and Sherry’s first date, three guys costumed as Santa Claus, led by Simon Greenly (Ray Nicholson), rob the bank. In doing so, they kill the manager, beat Nate senseless, and take Sherry hostage in order to escape unscathed.Nicholson is the son of Jack Nicholson and, by definition, he’s also a nepo baby. He has yet to fully prove his actual level of talent and staying power, although his work here and in the recent twisted thriller “Smile 2” are steps in the right direction.
Feeling bold for the first time in his life, Nate jumps into action and decides to pursue Simon and his cohorts, albeit in a stolen police car and with a pilfered 9mm handgun in order to rescue Sherry.
Suggesting a hybrid of “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Baby Driver,” “Deadpool,” and “Nobody,” “Novocaine” gets high points for stringing together a series of carefully constructed set-pieces that have logical, organic flow. In every one of them, Nate is subjected to injuries that would sideline, cripple, or kill any other person, but because of his inability to feel pain, it makes it all the more believable.
Sloppy Editing
The movie is simply too long and is guilty of piling-on. Ending it at the 90 minute mark would have been terrific, but adding another 20 minutes with multiple endings almost ruined it for me. Granted, some of what showed up during this stretch was semi-worthy of inclusion, and would have likely fit better had editor Christian Wagner trimmed more along the way.
It didn’t help that my opinion of “Novocaine” was somewhat wanting after watching “Black Bag,” a tightly-constructed, 93-minute, far-superior crime thriller also opening last weekend. Filmmakers and (more so) producers need to recognize that more isn’t necessarily better. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite.
Most movie fans want great stories presented without fat. If told well, a three-hour plus movie like “The Godfather” can feel shorter than mediocre movies clocking in at 90 minutes or less. Know when to stop and keep things simple.
