NOVOCAINE (2025)

Novocaine is no Citizen Kane (1941). But who says all films have to be poignant masterpieces that shatter us with their thrillingly tragic slap in the face recognitions of lost innocence? En lieu of a Rosebud, we have a spiked metal ball and carnage akin to the brand heaped upon Wile E. Coyote; except Jack Quaid’s – The Boys (2022-), Companion (2025) – character Nathan Caine (see how they did that) isn’t a cartoon coyote. He’s a human who suffers from a very real condition called Congenital Insensitivity to Pain Anhidrosis (CIPA). He can get maimed, but doesn’t feel it. Novocaine takes this one-note concept and hammers Quaid’s body into a bloody mess, many times and to humorous and disgusting effect. This year’s movie nemesis Ray Nicholson – Smile 2 (2024), Borderline (2025) – is fine as the bad guy, but I can’t help but see a lesser-than Jack, but the nepo-Gods have decided to give him some time. Unfortunately the lukewarm chemistry with Amber Midthunder that is supposed to be the driving force of Nathan’s 180 degree turn from fragile loner bank clerk to balls to the wall action hero doesn’t quite make for a believable catalyst, but I don’t think anything here is grounded in reality. So grab some popcorn, don’t overthink it and you’ll have a good time. Unlike Citizen Kane, and a lot like Looney Tunes.

WATCH OR NOT: WATCH

Additional musings: Jacob Batalon – Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – must be getting sick of this role by now…no?