Novocaine (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, a man incapable of feeling physical pain turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her.

My Take – While a plot surrounding an ordinary guy who is forced to break out of his shell to save a kidnapped loved one, might sound like something we have seen for umpteen times, this latest from directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen (Villians, Significant Other) throws a twist into the pitch by diagnosing the protagonist with a rare genetic disorder that doesn’t allow him to feel any form of physical pain.

And though this might sound like a simple and shallow gimmick, writer Lars Jacobson‘s script makes for a laughable yet strangely compelling action venture that delivers a fresh take on the hapless hero stereotype. Brought spectacularly to life by the irresistible Jack Quaid of ‘The Boys‘ fame and manages to be more of an action star than one would expect.

Sure, the outlandish premise, tailor-made for wacky genre mishaps that shares ingredients with the insane Jason Statham starrer Crank (2006), doesn’t fully explore its bonkers potential, yet, truth be told, witnessing its mild-mannered protagonist getting shot, burnt, beaten and broken and not feel the effect – makes for a very entertaining experience, even when the humor always doesn’t land.

More importantly, on the heels of some recently released bad action comedies, this one makes for a decent enjoyable ride, particularly if you’re able to suspend belief and just go with the absurdity of the whole situation.

The story follows Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), a mild-mannered assistant manager of a local bank who is diagnosed with genetic disorder: congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA). Simply told, he can feel no pain. Indeed, it sounds like a superpower, but the disorder also makes Nathan vulnerable to all kinds of fatal injuries, without him even realizing it.

A result of which he leads an extremely risk-averse life: All sharp edges in his flat are padded, he avoids solid food for fear of biting his tongue in half, and he even sets an alarm on his watch reminding him to urinate as his bladder might burst in case he forgets.

Living a rather lonely life, Nathan spends his time mostly in online video game sessions with Roscoe (Jacob Batalon), his only friend, who he has never met physically. That is until he falls for Sherry (Amber Midthunder), the new bank teller. And, just when things seems to be looking up for him after she genuinely connects with him and spends the night at his place, Nathan’s new life goes into shambles when his bank is held up by three Santa dressed armed raiders, who get away with a lot of cash and Sherry as a hostage.

Determined to get her back at all cost, Nathan steals a police car and begins a chase – leading him into a series of perils and adventures. He is not helped by the fact that the police aren’t sure which side he is on. From here on, Nathan receives a series of increasingly-bizarre injuries without any of them slowing him down at all.

And while one might expect the novelty to quickly wear off, writer Lars Jacobson manages to keep it from becoming stale, finding plenty of new and creative ways to inflict damage on his central character. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who have worked primarily in the horror space, have fun with the premise and their clear love of horror does bleed into proceedings with what Nathan is subjected to.

Taking full advantage of his condition: He shrugs off an arrow through the leg, cheerfully removes a bullet from a hole in his arm, and gamely hams it up during a torture scene by pretending to be in pain. The fight sequences are quite violent and absurdly comical in how they take advantage of Nathan’s blend of physical disorder, nice guy tendencies, and commitment to rescuing his love.

However, the film is never better than it is in its first act in which the lead couple dally in a sincerely believable, sweet and vulnerable beginning of a romance. Even his disability is treated with a surprising gravitas; as he explains to Sherry on their first date, how he was systematically suppressed by terrified parents, and by bullies who found his illness amusing and anointed him with the titular nickname.

Also, while the film is frequently a riot, one wishes the script could have gone through another draft round to iron out some flimsier details that could have helped the narrative maintain the crackle it so desperately needed to stay aflame. It doesn’t help that some late plot developments feel bizarrely convenient and invalidate much of its own setup.

Performance wise, Jack Quaid is firmly in his lane and not dissimilar to his role as Hughie in the Prime Video series, The Boys. Balanced between aggressiveness and passivity, Quaid’s personable screen presence holds things together, even as his brutally beaten body starts to fall apart. The delightful Amber Midthunder proves yet again why she deserves more roles. Jacob Batalon is his usual hilarious self.

Ray Nicholson continues to master the wild-eyed psychotic violent type. Sadly, talents like the very likable Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh are given very little to do. On the whole, ‘Novocaine‘ is a solid action comedy that is brutal, quirky and makes for another strong showcase for Quaid.