Jack Quaid stars as Nathan Caine in Novocaine, an action-comedy movie about a bank executive with a genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling pain. He starts to date one of his co-workers, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), but when the bank is robbed and Sherry is taken hostage, Nathan must leap into action, using his disorder as a superpower to hunt down the bad guys, get the girl, and save the day.
Novocaine is perhaps the biggest surprise of the year, proving to be an excellent action film that entertains from start to finish. It’s challenging to make an action movie with original ideas these days. While this film’s inciting incident is your classic damsel in distress plot, the direction this movie takes its concept is nothing short of spectacular. Many action movies have heroes with some sort of background in the police or the military, which makes their subsequent ass-kicking earned, but Nathan Caine is a mild-mannered banker. Within a few shots, we know he isn’t very fulfilled in life, but all that changes when he meets Sherry in classic slow-motion fashion.
The two hit it off in a way that feels very grounded. While this is an action film, the first half hour more closely resembles a romantic comedy. But it mostly doesn’t play into tropes. They go to a diner together and learn about each other as people. As Nathan and Sherry learn more about each other, we learn more about them. Their backstories and connection serve as a way to get us to care about them before the action starts. This way, once the bank robbery and kidnapping happens, we’re on board, and we care about Nathan’s goal.
Once Novocaine leaps into full-blown action, the movie becomes miles better. It’s funny to see Nathan in over his head, trying to fight bad guys. He’s at a clear disadvantage because of how untrained he is, and yet he’s also at a monumental advantage because he can’t feel pain. The screenplay from Lars Jacobson is brilliant because it knows exactly how to use Nathan’s power, from grabbing a steaming hot cast iron skillet to retrieving a gun from a pool of sizzling oil.
This film is viciously entertaining, offering non-stop fun that moves at a phenomenal pace. It’s a brilliant concept that’s executed to its maximum potential. Nathan’s disorder is used as a source of drama in the beginning as we learn about how dangerous it is for him to do something as simple as chew solid food and the rough childhood he had as a result. It’s used as a source of action because Nathan can perform feats no human could perform if they didn’t have this condition. And it’s used as a source of comedy perfectly, particularly during one sequence where Nathan is getting injured left and right, but he responds to it less with scream-worthy pain and more with mild annoyance and frustration.
Let’s talk about Novocaine’s star, Jack Quaid. He needs to be in every movie from now on. We’re not even three months into 2025 and he has starred in my two favorite films of the year (the other being Companion). It’s extra impressive because of how different the roles are. In Companion, he plays a despicable man with the most punchable face ever. In Novocaine, his energy is the exact opposite. He’s a charming, likable everyman, and it’s so easy to get on his side. This is such a great role for him and he pulls it off phenomenally. His reactions and comedic timing during scenes where anyone else is supposed to feel pain but he miraculously doesn’t are absolutely priceless.
Midthunder is another highlight of the film. The only issue is that the film doesn’t delve enough into her moral dilemmas when she must perform actions that should be challenging for her. Jacob Batalon is a welcome presence in this movie as well. Even though we’ve seen him play the “funny best friend” in the Spider-Man movies, he’s perfect for it and some of his lines got enormous laughs out of me and the audience. It’s lovely to see Ray Nicholson in the spotlight again after his brief but effective role in Smile 2. There’s also something so poetic about how over 50 years after The Last Detail, a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Randy Quaid, we have a new film starring both of their family members. Acting talent passed down a generation is always welcome.
Another impressive subplot is the one with the cops. Many action films about vigilantes have a subplot about the police trying to track down and apprehend our hero. It’s easy for these scenes to detract from the main story, but it works well in this film because Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh give fun performances. I also want to praise directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who have been working in the industry for several years now. While their work has generally gotten good reviews and talented actors, I think this movie may be the one that launches them into the stratosphere. I’m amazed by how well they direct the action, and even though they’re not super flashy with their camera choices, the rhythm and the kills of these fight scenes are bloody, brutal, and perfect.
If you’re a hardcore fan of action movies or if you just want a good date night movie (provided you have the stomach for violence), Novocaine starring Jack Quaid is the movie for you. You’ll go numb from laughter.
SCORE: 9/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Novocaine review.
