NOVOCAINE. Purely entertaining film [REVIEW]

A romantic comedy and a crime comedy under one roof. Both genres are driven by similar tropes, and ultimately, similar motivations guide audiences choosing either form of entertainment. This genre kinship was cleverly utilized by directing duo Dan Berk and Robert Olsen (Villains, Body), who worked with a script by Lars Jacobson that is deeply steeped in absurdity. Novocaine checks all the boxes for a light, purely entertaining film, tailor-made for a relaxing popcorn-filled Friday or Saturday afternoon. As I hinted at the beginning, it skillfully blends the heartwarming qualities of a rom-com with the action-packed, humor-infused nature of a lighthearted crime film.

The main character of Novocaine is Nate Caine, a steady and composed assistant manager at a bank branch in San Diego. Consumed by melancholy, Nate falls in love with a new employee, Sherry, who—through a twist of fate—reciprocates his feelings, sending the protagonist into a newly discovered state of euphoria. Unfortunately, their idyllic romance and the magic of the upcoming holidays are interrupted by a robbery at their branch, carried out by three criminals dressed as Santas. As luck would have it, the robbers decide to take Sherry as a hostage, prompting the otherwise kind-hearted Nate to embark on a solo rescue mission, convinced that the police are moving too slowly. Thus, the romantic comedy transforms into a high-energy action film.

The originality of this story hinges on Nate’s genetic inability to feel pain. As a child, this condition earned him the nickname Novocaine (ironically a rather cool moniker, despite his bullies’ intentions). It also forced him to live a sheltered life, carefully avoiding accidents that most people instinctively prevent thanks to their ability to feel pain—such as biting off their own tongue or suffering a bladder explosion. What was once his greatest weakness becomes his superpower when Nate sets out to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. After all, it’s surprisingly hard to incapacitate someone who might collapse from a hit but won’t be paralyzed by pain—and who reacts to a bullet wound with a simple “huh.” Needless to say, the three robbers picked the wrong target and the wrong day.

Beyond its stylistic shift after the opening act, Novocaine also delivers some solid plot twists—ones I won’t spoil here. Suffice it to say that the romantic side of the story is fully addressed by the final act, while Nate faces numerous unexpected turns along the way. Viewers are also introduced to an enjoyable cast of supporting characters, including Roscoe, Nate’s online gaming buddy, and a duo of detectives investigating the robbery. The film is infused with a laid-back sense of humor, well-choreographed fight scenes, and even a surprising dose of brutality (it received an R rating in the U.S. and is restricted to audiences 16+ in most of Europe).

The cherry on top is Jack Quaid, who fits the film’s tone perfectly. He handles the action sequences well, possesses strong dramatic skills, but most importantly, seamlessly aligns with the tradition of comedic actors. He’s joined by a more-than-capable supporting cast, including Jacob Batalon (of the Marvel universe), Betty Gabriel (Get Out), Matt Walsh (a staple of the comedy scene), and Ray Nicholson (yes, from those Nicholsons, known from Promising Young Woman and Smile 2).

Novocaine delivers straightforward crime-tinged entertainment, balancing action and romantic themes in just the right proportions. While Berk and Olsen’s directorial craftsmanship could still use some refinement—the final act can drag, and some of the twists could have been handled more effectively—this is not a film they need to be ashamed of. It should also help solidify Jack Quaid’s career trajectory, as he has the potential to fill a niche once occupied by Bruce Willis and more recently, to some extent, Bob Odenkirk.

In other words—Novocaine doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t promise more than it can deliver, making it a pleasantly surprising watch.