Novocaine

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen take this dumb-clever, fake-movie-science idea and run with it as hard and as fast as they can in one straight direction, using Nate’s condition as an excuse for pure, unchecked mayhem.

It’s a repetitive bloodbath without the adrenaline of some action marathons like John Wick. Instead of wondering how much more Nathan Caine can endure, I’m left wondering how much more Novocaine I can stomach.

It helps that Quaid is so good at landing every punchline, if not punch. His Nathan may not have any sense of pain, but Quaid gives him a great sense of humour.

Berk and Olsen accomplish a formidable action-comedy, one that puts their horror roots in neon lights and sense of humor on equal display.

“Novocaine” makes a convincing argument that its lead, Jack Quaid, can do it all: woo the girl, shoot the goon and tickle the audience. The movie itself has a harder time, screwing its three genres together so awkwardly that it tends to limp.

None of it makes sense, even if he does stop for an adrenaline injection, but if we wanted to see something make sense we’d be at a different movie.

The bones of a great movie are in here somewhere, buried under mid-tier execution and some sterile creative decisions.

This compelling action-comedy skillfully balances graphic violence with authentic emotion and sharp humor.

Novocaine is a film that's honest about what it is. It's a "cringe comedy" where you wince every time another Wile E. Coyote-style violent act happens. It doesn't quite run out of steam but is a film that would be better with a tight 90-minute edit.



Novocaine is a fun, over-the-top action thriller with a likable lead, clean action sequences, and some hilariously improbable moments. See it in 4DX!