REVIEW: Novocaine (2025)

Novocaine – A Wild, Pain-Free Ride and One of the Most Fun Movies of the Year!

I had the chance to attend an advanced 4DX screening of Novocaine, and let me tell you—this one might just be one of the most fun movies I’ve seen all year. Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, Novocaine is a fast-paced, action-packed, and surprisingly heartwarming ride that delivers exactly what it promises: big action, plenty of laughs, and even a dash of romance.

The story follows Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), a mild-mannered bank manager who was born with congenital insensitivity to pain—a condition that leaves him physically numb to injury. Nathan’s life is pretty uneventful until a violent bank heist turns his world upside down. His coworker and crush, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), is kidnapped, and Nathan—armed with little more than his inability to feel pain—decides he’s the one who’s going to get her back. What follows is a chaotic, high-octane rescue mission full of explosive set pieces and laugh-out-loud moments.

Jack Quaid is absolutely fantastic in this role. He balances Nathan’s awkward, reluctant-hero vibe with genuine heart, making it easy to root for him every step of the way. This might be one of my favorite performances from Quaid to date. Amber Midthunder also shines as Sherry, giving the character strength and dimension beyond the typical damsel-in-distress role. Their chemistry adds an unexpected romantic thread to the story that works surprisingly well and gives the film a little more heart than you might expect going in.

Ray Nicholson plays Simon, the film’s antagonist, with just the right amount of unpredictable menace. He’s intense without ever feeling over-the-top, and his presence raises the stakes whenever he’s on screen.

The action sequences are wild and relentless—especially in 4DX, where you feel every punch, crash, and explosion. The movie leans into its premise in all the right ways, using Nathan’s inability to feel pain as a fun plot device without turning it into a gimmick. There’s a great blend of creative fight choreography and moments of physical comedy that land exactly where they should.

And let’s talk about the humor—it works. The jokes hit, the comedic timing is sharp, and even when the film dips into more familiar territory with a few predictable tropes, it never takes away from the overall enjoyment. If anything, it makes the film feel like a modern-day throwback to the fun, over-the-top action movies of the late '90s and early 2000s, but with its own unique twist.

At a brisk 103 minutes, Novocaine doesn’t overstay its welcome. It keeps the energy high, the action tight, and the audience entertained throughout.

If I had one small nitpick, it’s that I wouldn’t have minded a bit more depth in the villain’s backstory or motivation—but that’s me looking for something to critique. Honestly, I was having way too much fun to dwell on it for long.

With Novocaine hitting theaters on March 14, 2025, I highly recommend seeing it on the biggest screen possible—and if you get the chance to experience it in 4DX, do it. It’s a wild ride from start to finish.

Rating: 8.5/10