Movie Review: ‘Novocaine’ is the Most Fun You'll Have at the Movies
- Details
- Category: New Series and Movie Reviews
- Published: Sunday, 16 March 2025 16:44
- Written by Lupe R Haas
NOVOCAINE is the kind of movie that brings fun back to cinema. The protagonist’s inability to feel pain paradoxically transfers to the audience, turning his agony into a communal experience.
Jack Quaid’s Nate suffers from a rare genetic disorder that numbs him to physical pain. As a reserved assistant bank manager, he lives cautiously—until he meets his match in coworker Sherry (PREY’s Amber Midthunder). When Sherry is kidnapped during a bank heist, Nate sheds his inhibitions, using his "superpower" to rescue her.
NOVOCAINE plays like an action comedy but incorporates horror elements as Nate endures cringeworthy injuries. While he feels nothing, the audience can’t help but wince.
Jack Quaid is perfect as the fish-out-of-water hero, oblivious to pain but determined to save the day. Though the premise—that Nate would take on armed bank robbers after just one date—stretches credibility, Quaid’s charm makes it believable. His signature smile and expressive frown lines are reminiscent of his father, Dennis Quaid.
Amber Midthunder (PREY) may be the first Native American actor to play a romantic lead in a mainstream Hollywood film. Having already proven herself as a formidable action star in the PREDATOR prequel, her star only rises further with this role.
Thankfully, Midthunder’s ethnicity isn’t a focal point of the story—just as it should be. She and Quaid share instant chemistry, making their dynamic compelling from the start. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen even revealed to CineMovie why they cast the PREY star and why she was the perfect fit for the role.
NOVOCAINE isn’t without its flaws. The twist is predictable, and it's hardly a surprise when the reveal finally comes. Still, the film delivers enough action, humor, and charm to keep audiences entertained.