Jack Quaid Is the Quirkiest of Heroes in NOVOCAINE

A lovestruck loner with a unique condition jumps into hero mode to save the girl of his dreams. Starring Jack Quaid, Novocaine is a boisterous thrill ride of an action-comedy with an endearing lead, dazzling stunt sequences, and the perfect amount of hijinks. Made all the more fun in an immersive theater experience.

Suffering from a rare genetic disorder that lets him feel no pain, Nathan Caine (Quaid) leads a cautious and isolated life, earning the nickname “Novocaine” by his adolescent bullies. He’s an all-around good guy, even struggling as a bank manager when having difficult financial conversations with customers.

For months, he’s had a crush on a new bank teller named Sherry (Amber Midthunder), and he’s delighted, yet intimidated, when she shows interest. But after one date, he’s fully smitten.

However, that post-date high wears off quickly when a group of thieves rob the bank, taking Sherry hostage in the process. Desperate to rescue the woman he loves, Nathan decides to be risky for once in his life and chase after them.

Novocaine is everything you want out of a crowd-pleasing popcorn flick. It’s absurdly funny at times while still packing a punch. And it’s all wrapped in a tightly wound story that keeps you fully engaged, as a good action film should. It’s directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who have had two stellar recent releases with Villains and Significant Other. Both are also unique genre-blending films with a bit of twisted humor.

Casting Jack Quaid was a great choice, as he’s ridiculously charming and able to step into leading man territory without sacrificing his playfulness. A quirky John Wick, if you will. The character of Nathan is reminiscent of his character Hughie in the television series The Boys, which isn’t a harp as he is great at playing that lovable goofball.

And he’s equally matched with Ray Nicholson, the film’s villain. He stood out to me last year with his roles in I Love You Forever and Smile 2. He so effortlessly slips into menacing characters with his charm, and there’s just something about his performances that you can’t help but love to hate him.

But still, there’s a comedic level to his character that meshes well with the tone of the film. Even Jacob Batalon, who plays Nathan’s gamer-bestie, pops in at the perfect moments to interject added levity. Overall, it just perfectly balances that humorous thread throughout, never feeling exhaustive.

That even bleeds in—literally—to the action.

Of course, Nathan goes through a ton of injuries throughout in some epic fight sequences. They’re ridiculous and over-the-top, lending itself to more of the film’s comedy. And I was pleasantly surprised with how realistic the practical effects are. Some are not meant for the squeamish.

And on that technical side, there are a lot of enjoyable pieces to the film. You have well-choreographed stunts that are a blast to watch. And camerawork that keeps you engaged in the action. And the sound design brings it all together with every crash, stab, and splat.

But if you really want to experience this film unlike any other, I recommend catching this in 4DX. It’s a more immersive experience with motion seats, wind, water, and more. I’m typically not someone who enjoys a gimmick, but it does amplify things and makes this one hell of a ride. It also adds a level of hilarity for the audience. It will cost you just over $20 a person, but it feels like you’re watching a movie at a theme park, so it’s worth it, in my opinion.

Novocaine is in theaters now