REVIEW — “Novocaine”

While Paramount Pictures’ Novocaine opens with REM’s “Everybody Hurts,” its hero Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) never hurts. In fact, he suffers from a genetic disorder called CIPA, or Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis.

The very real, albeit rare, autosomal recessive disorder is characterized by the inability to feel pain and temperature. Because of his dulled nerves that can lead to recurrent injuries and other health complications, Nate leads a very safe, timid and cautious life as an assistant bank manager. His days are void of any adventure, excitement, or taste. That is, until he meets Sherry (Amber Midthunder), the girl of his dreams.

Their workplace meet-cute turns into a puppy love for Nate that allows him the courage to step out of his round-cornered, injury-proofed apartment and into the real world for the first time. Sherry even convinces him to try cherry pie, natch, a luxury he has avoided as he mostly sticks to liquid meals for fear of unknowingly biting off his tongue. When he finally tastes life (and Sherry) for the first time and realizes what he’s been missing, there’s no turning back.

With former foster child Sherry in recovery from self-inflicted harm, they both share a bond rooted in pain. “Everyone has scars,” she says, “they’re all just looking for someone to show them to.” However, their brief romance may be short-lived. When Sherry is kidnapped during a bank robbery, everyman Nate must turn his pain-free disability into an unexpected superpower in his hilarious and dangerous journey to get her back.

Directed by Dan Berk & Robert Olsen, Novocaine rests on the shoulders of its likeable leading man, and Quaid delivers in spades. Having gained popularity with similar turns in Amazon Prime’s The Boys and Scream V, among others, Quaid has perfected the role of the in-over-his-head charmer who can take a beating.

While Quaid has made a name for himself in several successful projects in recent years, it is impossible to ignore the innate charm and goodwill that he’s inherited from his beloved celebrity parents, Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. In fact, one of the best parts of Novocaine features Nate “faking it” through a torture scene, which is hilariously reminiscent of his mom’s most iconic bit in When Harry Met Sally.

However, Quaid isn’t the only stand-out “nepo baby” making a name for himself in this film. The dynamic and terrifying Ray Nicholson delivers a scene-stealing performance as main villain Simon that is gleefully evil. The son of legendary actor Jack Nicholson has a bright future ahead of him and can easily make a career out of playing demented maniacs.

Written by Lars Jacobson, the film also stars Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Van Hengst, Conrad Kemp, and Jacob Batalon as Nate’s only friend, Roscoe. While the film features madcap fun with bloody outrageous stunts and gruesome gore, it, unfortunately, begins to suffer from blood loss near the end. However, with such a clever premise for an everyman superhero, Novocaine could have legs for a sequel series if handled with care. 3/5

Rated R with a running time of 1 hours 50 minutes, Novocaine opens in theaters on March 14, 2025.