In the world of action comedies, it’s not every day that a film promises to blend high-energy action with an absurd premise, but Novocaine does just that. With the tagline “Meet Nathan Caine. He can’t feel pain,” the film sets the stage for a unique adventure, capturing an intriguing concept with simplicity and wit. Nathan Caine (played by Jack Quaid) has a rare, innate inability to feel pain, a condition that proves unexpectedly useful when he finds himself in the midst of a wild action-comedy scenario. With a premise similar to the 2006 Jason Statham film Crank, Novocaine offers a quirky and unexpected ride. However, while the film delivers a fun concept, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential.

A Familiar, Yet Endearing Hero

Nathan Caine is not unlike Jack Quaid’s breakout role as Hughie in The Boys—a bumbling, nerdy man who is reluctantly thrust into a world of tough characters. In Novocaine, Nathan is introduced as a kind-hearted credit management assistant who spends his free time playing video games under the gamertag ‘MagicNateBall.’ His life takes an unexpected turn when a group of bank robbers storms his credit union, taking Nathan’s colleague and girlfriend, Shari (Amber Midthunder), as hostages. Forced to take matters into his own hands, Nathan must navigate this chaos with his unique condition, where he feels no pain and can endure injuries that would incapacitate most.

While Nathan’s character is relatable and Jack Quaid’s performance is solid, the setup feels familiar—similar to the fish-out-of-water trope. Quaid’s portrayal of a well-meaning, out-of-his-depth hero is charming, but at times, his character doesn’t fully embrace the zany potential the film sets up. The premise is ripe for outrageous moments, but Novocaine stops short of exploiting its quirky premise to its fullest extent.

A Missed Opportunity for Humor and Action

Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, Novocaine follows the idea that a great action film is one where the hero must be beaten down time and time again. Nathan endures multiple injuries throughout the film, such as arrows through the leg and bullets in his arm, all of which he takes in stride. His lack of pain perception leads to some darkly comic moments, such as when he cheerfully pretends to be in pain during a torture scene. While this concept is funny at first, it quickly becomes repetitive without offering the comedic payoff it promises.

The film plays with the absurdity of Nathan’s condition, and while the accumulation of injuries grows more grotesque, the humor doesn’t quite reach the level of absurdity it could have. The comedy in Novocaine tends to elicit chuckles rather than full-on laughs, and its approach to the pain-free concept doesn’t fully exploit the comedic potential it holds.

On the action side, Novocaine does little to set itself apart from other action films. While Jack Quaid delivers an earnest performance, the choreography and fight scenes feel like a routine affair, lacking the energy and flair necessary to make them stand out. Despite the absurdly fun premise, the action sequences come across as predictable, not engaging the audience in the way one would expect from a movie that sets up such wild possibilities.

Amber Midthunder’s Underutilized Talent

Amber Midthunder, who impressed audiences with her breakout role in Prey, is largely sidelined in Novocaine. Her character, Shari, is relegated to the typical damsel-in-distress role, despite Midthunder’s evident talent for action. Her role is reduced to little more than a plot device, even though her performance in Prey showed she has the potential to be a leading action star. The film could have benefitted from giving her more to work with, allowing her to break free from the stereotypical ‘girl in peril’ narrative and showcase her action chops.

A Film That Falls Just Short

Novocaine has a solid premise and a tagline that promises something wild and unique, but it doesn’t deliver on its initial potential. While the quirky concept of a man who can’t feel pain holds promise, the film doesn’t go far enough in exploring the humor and action that such a premise could offer. The injuries Nathan sustains and the situations he finds himself in could have been more exaggerated for comedic effect, but instead, the film settles for a level of restraint that fails to fully captivate.

The action scenes, while serviceable, lack the punch needed to elevate the film to something truly memorable. Moreover, Amber Midthunder’s talent is underutilized, with her character remaining largely passive and unable to showcase the range she demonstrated in previous roles.

In the end, Novocaine feels like a missed opportunity. For a film with such a fun and absurd premise, it doesn’t quite reach the heights it could have. Instead of being a standout action-comedy, it becomes just another film that’s enjoyable, but not memorable. If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted action film with some quirky moments, Novocaine may be worth a watch, but don’t expect it to break new ground in the genre.