Novocaine (2001)
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38% of critics liked it
(107 reviews) -
37% of users liked it
(7,275 ratings)
In this darkly comic film noir from writer/director David Atkins, Steve Martin revisits dentistry -- an occupation he'd explored 15 years prior, in the camp musical Little Shop of Horrors. Novocaine casts Martin as a much more mild-mannered D.D.S., Dr. Frank Sangster. Engaged to a prim and… More In this darkly comic film noir from writer/director David Atkins, Steve Martin revisits dentistry -- an occupation he'd explored 15 years prior, in the camp musical Little Shop of Horrors. Novocaine casts Martin as a much more mild-mannered D.D.S., Dr. Frank Sangster. Engaged to a prim and delicate hygienist, Jean (Laura Dern), Sangster leads a placid, upper-middle class existence, save for the occasional visit from his deadbeat artist brother Harlan (Elias Koteas). But Sangster finds his life turned inside out from the moment the alluring Susan (Helena Bonham Carter) plops down in his reclining vinyl chair: Complaining about her molars, she's really more interested in the refrigerator of narcotics the good dentist keeps on hand for his patients in pain. Once they manage to get Sangster's guard down, Susan and her brother (Scott Caan) rob him blind -- and worse yet, frame him for the theft. When a dead body turns up in Sangster's sleek suburban home, he finds that clearing his name will be a difficult proposition indeed. Novocaine marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Atkins, who first made his mark with the script for Emir Kusturica's oddball cult favorite Arizona Dream (1993). ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Directed By
- David Atkins
- Written By
- David Atkins
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Nov 16, 2001 Wide
- Studio
- Artisan Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The casting is peculiar, the tone is off, the plot is uninteresting and the ending is sorry.
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Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Plays like the sort of silly shared fantasy that a group of dental students might come up with late one night, after too much coffee and cramming for finals.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
This movie was not effective.
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
A coarse, witless and stunningly violent black comedy.
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Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Atkins never finds the right tone for Novocaine. It's not dark enough to be either viciously funny or unsettling.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Steve Martin
as Dr. Frank Sangster
- Helena Bonham Carter
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Laura Dern
as Jean Noble
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Scott Caan
as Duane
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Keith David
as Detective Lunt
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Lynne Thigpen
as Pat
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Kevin Bacon
as Hip movie star [uncredited]
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Mindy Suzanne Bell
as Trooper Bunch
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Jobe Cerny
as Pharmacist Wayne Ponze
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Roy Hytower
as Skinny Sheriff
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Rich Komenich
as Detective
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Elias Koteas
as Harlan Sangster
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George Lugg
as Liquor Store Owner
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Rom Milanovich
as "Blue Sands" Bartender
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Lucina Paquet
as Mrs. Langston
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Chelcie Ross
as Mike
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Quincy Wong
as Chinese Husband
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Preston Maybank
as Gelding
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Polly Augusta Noonan
as Sally
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Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
as Motel Security Guard
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Eric Lane
as Officer Chuck Smith
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Yasen Peyankov
as "Sunshine Lounge" Bartender
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Teri Cotruzzola
as Attractive Complaining Patient
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Sally Kao
as Chinese Wife
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Tyler Rostenkowski
as Billy
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Karol Kent
as Detective Lily Pons
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Mary Ann Childers
as Anchorwoman
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James Chisem
as Harris
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Joe Kasala
as Officer Peter Reilly
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Kwame Amoaku
as Visiting Room Guard
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Len Bajenski
as Trooper Jarvis
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Roderick Peeples
as Storch
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Christian Stolte
as Court guard
