Novocaine - All Fun With A Side Of Pain

Novocaine [2025]

Film

Wearing your heart on your sleeve is a staple of romantic comedies. Some might call it tropey or even cheesy, but when done right, it allows a film to convey its emotions in the simplest, most direct way. Co-directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen embrace this approach in Novocaine, layering in just enough sentimental charm to be endearing—if occasionally eye-roll-inducing. Whether it’s Sherry (Amber Midthunder) gliding into frame in slow motion as Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) loses himself in the moment, or Earl (Lou Beatty Jr.) a longtime bank member at Nathan's branch expressing his grief over losing his wife of 50 years, Novocaine wears its intentions plainly. It starts with this somewhat cheesy and slow first act, carefully building the romance between Nathan and Sherry before pivoting into a nobody-becomes-somebody adventure in the final two-thirds, which, tropes-aside, is an entertaining and wild ride.

But Novocaine's real hook is Nathan’s unique condition—he can’t feel pain. His entire life has been shaped by caution, from avoiding solid food for fear of biting his tongue to icing his coffee to prevent burns. That is, until he meets Sherry. But in the blink of an eye, bank robbers, led by a wildly belligerent Ray Nicholson, come crashing into Nathan's branch and take Sherry hostage in their escape. Fueled by a mixture of love, adrenaline, and the absence of pain, Nathan takes it upon himself to go after Sherry and become the hero—not because he ever wanted to be one, but because, for the right person, he just might be.

While the first act takes its time to build the connection between Sherry and Nathan, as soon as she's taken, the gloves come off. The action sequences, especially in tight corners, introduce fantastic camera movement that creates an immersive experience reminiscent of Upgrade, a sci-fi action thriller where a man's body is taken over by artificial intelligence for fight scenes. While Upgrade has someone in the cockpit for the fights, Novocaine left without its pilot as Quaid relishes in the getting tossed around like a rag doll role. When combined with the kinetic camera movement, it results in an exceptionally thrilling action sequence. The only qualm I have is that this direction was abandoned early in the film, and I think it could've benefitted from having this be a reoccurring visual motif.

Novocaine [2025]

Novocaine, however, does strike gold with its more consistent measures, which starts with Quaid and Midthunder's chemistry. They play incredibly well off of each other, delivering some stand-out laughs and heartfelt moments that feel genuine. A big plus for the romantic tones of the film. Additionally, the terrific sound design of whatever the hell Caine goes through is catered perfectly to creating a squirming audience. While Caine may not feel any pain, the design and camera work around the more gruesome acts make damn sure the audience feels everything, creating a fun environment in a packed theater that emanates shocked groans and gasps.

Unfortunately, but expectedly, the story suffers from some lulls, which could've been eliminated with some sharper editing. the whole movie feels 15-20 minutes overlong. Especially when shoe-horning in redundant action or chase sequences that could've been abbreviated. Not to mention the textbook eye-roll and groan-inducing romantic moments that are beyond predictable. But Novocaine's more corny, or campy, moments are a magnification of its absurdity. A man that can't feel any pain going on a "rampage" to save a woman he's been on one date with? Of course, it's ridiculous! Of course, the villain is going to be a nonsensical megalomaniac. But Quaid, Midthunder and Nicholson prove to be exceptionally effective in their roles, reflecting the outrageous nature of the story in their performances, in what is a wildly fun film. Sure, Quaid and Jacob Batalon might just be rehashed versions of their characters in The Boys and the latest Spider-Man films, respectively, but they have great rapport, and Quaid has a tremendous comedic physicality to his role. Being thrown around like a neurotic rag doll, as it turns out, is pretty entertaining to watch.

Novocaine isn’t a perfect film, but it knows exactly what it is: a high-energy, offbeat action-romance that never takes itself too seriously. It stumbles in places, but thanks to its committed cast, sharp action, and moments of genuine heart, it delivers a thoroughly fun ride—corny moments and all.

Froth

There were plenty of moments in Novocaine where I was squirming in my seat, writhing in imagined pain from what Nathan Caine was experiencing. Quaid's nonchalance through these traumatic scenes give the film a nice comedic touch while you're watching something a little more gruesome occur, so the balance overall is quite enjoyable. But still, there's some things that occur that really trigger my squeamish side. So of course I'm going to partake in drinking a brew that will help alleviate some of this imaginary pain while accenting every punch with punches of its own. I'm talking about Reuben's Brews' Blimey That's Bitter! triple IPA. It packs a wallop with 80 IBU but never to the point of being unbearable to drink. In fact, its heightened bitterness is delightful when combined with its boozier taste, coming in at a solid 10.5% ABV, and its strong citrus and piney notes. Sure, there's a lot going on in this beer but it all evens out to be a curated experience that isn't overwhelming and instead gives each flavor profile its time to shine.