Novocaine

If you’ve ever played sports, you’ve probably heard a coach or someone say, “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” But what if you couldn’t feel any pain? Would that mean you had no weakness at all? I guess the answer might be yes—at least, that’s what Jack Quaid’s new movie, Novocaine, sets out to explore.

The good news? This isn’t a movie about a trainer screaming motivational lines at Quaid while he pushes his body past its limits. No, this is a story about a boy who meets a girl—and the pain, or in this case, the lack of pain, that he’ll endure to be with her.

Nathan (Jack Quaid) seems to live a boring yet simple life. He’s an assistant manager at a bank and appears to avoid danger or excitement at all costs. You see, Nathan has Congenital Insensitivity to Pain—meaning he feels nothing. While that might sound cool at first, it comes with its downsides. For example, he has to set a timer to remind himself to pee so his bladder doesn’t burst. Details like that make it clear why Nathan plays it safe.

That all changes when he meets Sherry (Amber Midthunder). Sherry convinces Nathan to take some risks, and after a night with her, he wakes up feeling on top of the world. But that high doesn’t last long. The next day at work, the bank gets robbed, and the thieves take Sherry hostage during their getaway. Nathan has just had his first taste of excitement, and he’s not about to let it slip away—so he does what any rational person would do: he goes after the robbers, willing to do whatever it takes to save Sherry.

Written by Lars Jacobson, Novocaine isn’t just your typical average-guy-thrown-into-a-crazy-situation story. Instead, it veers into batsh*t-crazy territory, kicking into high gear after a relatively mild start. Jacobson doesn’t just give Nathan this disorder—he makes sure we understand the risks that come with it. Nathan has to drink his food to avoid biting his tongue, and, as mentioned, he literally needs reminders to use the bathroom. Novocaine has a clever premise and a lead who perfectly fits the role—something that helps make up for the steam it loses in the third act.

As an action film, Novocaine works well, striking a balance between ridiculousness and seriousness. It takes a little while to get going, but once it does, it’s worth the wait. The fight scenes are particularly fun—Nathan can’t fight worth a damn, which only makes them more entertaining. What really sells Novocaine, though, is Quaid himself. He’s totally believable as a shy, nerdy guy who would do anything for a girl who made him feel something, even if he technically can’t feel anything physically.

The movie starts off as a blast, with some gnarly scenes, but the gimmick starts to wear thin, and the story stretches longer than necessary. Even with its flaws, Novocaine is a fun ride—one that, I promise, won’t leave you feeling numb.