MOVIE TITLE: Novocaine

This comedy/action/mystery/thriller by Paramount Pictures is now playing in theaters and on Fandango at Home.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 50 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about a guy who is incapable of feeling physical pain. When the girl of his dreams gets kidnapped, he turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her.

The film was directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. Writing credits go to Lars Jacobson.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Profanity and F-bombs
We see a man’s bare chest covered in tattoos.
Bloody, gory, brutally violent bloodbath
Firearms and and other weapons are used
Extreme violence and torture

THEMES:

Pleasure vs. pain
Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) – This is a real and rare medical condition!
The pain we endure to save the one we love

THINGS I LIKED:

The film stars Jack Quaid. Yes…Quaid. He’s the son of legendary actor Dennis Quaid and America’s Sweetheart of the 1990s Meg Ryan. Jack also starred in the movie Companion, which is still playing in select theaters. You can see my review on the Movie Review Mom YouTube channel. Some are calling Jack Quaid the “Everyman” and this generation’s Tom Hanks. Great compliments!
The descendants of great actors includes another cast member: Jack Nicholson’s son Ray Nicholson!
Other cast members include Matt Walsh, Amber Midthunder, Betty Gabriel, Lou Beatty Jr., and Jacob Batalon.
Production took place in Cape Town, South Africa.
The directors carefully thought out the fight sequences because they wanted the movie to seem believable for someone who couldn’t feel pain but wasn’t a superhero.
The officially opened on “Pi Day”, which was March 14, 2025 (3/14). Pie actually works as a metaphor in the film.
There are some fun twists.
Act 1 feels like a rom-com, while Acts 2 & 3 are full-on action.
The fight sequences are brutal and creative.
When the movie starts, we hear R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” for an ironic opener.
Lots of dark comedy, both spoken and visual.
I love the title of the movie. It obviously speaks to the protagonist’s inability to feel pain, but it also underscores how falling in love with someone can make you willing to go through almost anything to protect that person.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Severe and brutal, bloody, gory violence and torture

FUNNY LINES:

“It’s not about the money. What’s important is that we had fun.” – Simon (Ray Nicholson)
“You might want to launder that, by the way.” – Nate (Jack Quaid)
“Oh, I might be dying!” – Nate (Jack Quaid) “But I’m going to kill you first!” – Simon (Ray Nicholson)