NOVOCAINE (2025) – Tedious, unfunny and a waste of time

Novocaine centers around Nate, a protagonist born with a rare condition rendering him insensitive to pain. He is a mild-mannered, kind-hearted individual who works as an assistant manager in a bank and falls in love with a co-worker. However, his protected lifestyle unravels when a violent crime occurs at his workplace, triggering a series of events that transform him into a reluctant hero.

The film’s premise is typical of Hollywood fantasies, serving as an excuse to produce yet another mindless action flick with poor character development. The majority of the film consists of scenes designed to test Nate’s inability to feel physical pain in increasingly bizarre situations. While the violent fights are laced with humor, this mix of blood and laughs is not particularly enjoyable for my personal taste.

Jack Quaid, who was recently seen in another lowbrow movie, Companion, lacks the screen presence and charisma to carry an entire action movie on his own. His portrayal of Nate comes across as artificial and one-dimensional. At no point in the movie do we feel any genuine sense of danger to his character, making the entire premise a tedious watch as we reach its predictable conclusion. Amber Midthunder, as the damsel in distress, is equally unremarkable. The only person who brings genuine humour to the film is Jacob Batalon, who plays Nate’s online game buddy Roscoe. Jacob, instantly recognizable as Peter Parker’s best friend in the Tom Holland Spiderman series, delivers his jokes with impeccable timing and possesses a naturally funny aura.

Novocaine unfortunately exemplifies the dire state of Hollywood movies today. It showcases the lack of originality in story and characters, coupled with a lazy script that feels recycled from countless other films. There is little substance to appreciate or be impressed by in this production. It fails to offer anything new or engaging. It is a reminder of the need for innovation and creativity in Hollywood, and hopefully, better days lie ahead for the film industry.