Nathan Caine may not be able to feel pain, but audiences watching “Novocaine” certainly will. This action-comedy, directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen and written by Lars Jacobson, revels in its protagonist’s suffering, offering a relentless barrage of over-the-top injuries that are both wince-inducing and darkly humorous.
Jack Quaid stars as Nate, a cautious bank employee with congenital insensitivity to pain and analgesia (CIPA)—a real medical condition that prevents him from feeling any physical discomfort. But as he quickly explains, “It’s not a superpower. I can still die. Just maybe because I forgot to empty my bladder for hours… or accidentally bit my tongue off eating a sandwich.” His life is meticulously structured to prevent potential hazards—sharp corners are cushioned with tennis balls, and his diet consists solely of soft foods, much like “Kelly Ripa before a show.”
For Nate, life is routine: a stable but dull job as an assistant bank manager, no dating prospects, and most of his free time spent gaming online. That changes when a charming bank teller, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), asks him out for lunch, drinks, and eventually, an overnight stay. The next morning, however, everything takes a brutal turn—Sherry is taken hostage when a violent gang, led by Ray Nicholson, robs the bank, executing both the manager and police officers outside.
Instead of leaving it to law enforcement, Nate impulsively hijacks a cop car and decides to save Sherry himself. “Don’t do it,” an injured officer pleads as Nate hesitates. It’s a fair point—why wouldn’t he let the professionals handle it, especially during the understaffed holiday season? But the film isn’t here for logic; it’s here to push Nate into ever more dangerous situations.
What follows is a gauntlet of chaos: a brutal kitchen brawl, a tattoo parlor interrogation, and a showdown in a booby-trapped house straight out of “Home Alone”—a reference the film even acknowledges before the audience can make the comparison. Nate’s pain-free existence allows for creative, albeit stomach-churning, fight sequences, including one moment where he persuades a sadistic captor to prolong his torture just to buy time for his escape.
Quaid leans into the absurdity with a performance that is equal parts deadpan and frantic, making his introverted, overly cautious character surprisingly believable. Despite being a product of Hollywood royalty, he sells Nate’s everyman appeal, making his transformation from a timid bank clerk to an unlikely action hero somewhat plausible.
Though “Novocaine” is a step up from recent mediocre action comedies like “Love Hurts,” it’s not without flaws. The film stretches on a bit too long, with multiple false endings that test the audience’s patience. Still, its mix of stylish action and dark humor makes for an entertaining, if not entirely painless, ride.
“Novocaine” is a Paramount Pictures release, hitting theaters this Friday. Rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong, bloody violence, language throughout, and grisly images.” Running time: 110 minutes. 
out of 4 stars.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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