Novocaine - Huey Had A Bad Day

Novocaine Poster

This movie was equal parts action/adventure...little bit of mystery...and a lot wincing in your seat. Let's dive in shall we.

Jack Quaid plays Nathan Caine, a young assistant manager at a bank in sunny San Diego. He unfortunately suffers from a rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling pretty much anything.

He manages this buy having markers on his shower (so he doesn't scald himself) and timers to remind him to go to the bathroom (because he can't feel that either). Nathan hides himself away from the world because of this condition. He sticks to non-solid foods because he might bite his tongue off and not feel it until his mouth fills with blood.

Though hesitant he lets a co-worker (Sherry) take him out to lunch (he has pie for the first time and loves it...Dean approves.

They go out to a bar that sells art (she has a couple pieces for sale that night) and they end up hitting it off. Nathan is taken with her and quite smitten.

The next day, bank robbery. Bank manager murdered. Sherry taken hostage. What's a guy to do?...Why go after them of course.

This is what begins an hour of absolute brutality and violence in albeit comical manner. It's important to remember just because he can't feel pain, he can still get hurt, burned, sliced, break bones, which adds to the insanity.

When taking on one robber he reaches for a blazing hot cast iron skillet to use as a weapon, robber grabs at it thinking its not hot...not so much. Grabs a gun in a bubbling hot oil cooker. His body went through the wringer in this movie.

His goal is just to get his girl back, but because of optics, cops are after him because they think he had something to do with the robbery. So, he's trying to run from them and find Sherry.

The way that ends is a little bittersweet because of who she is.

Her brother (she's adopted) was in charge of the bank heist and she was supposed to get the safe combo from Nathan. She hates her role in it and really did feel something for him. He ends up killing her brother, saving her life.

After his very long, no good, mostly bad day...he wakes up in a full body cast at the hospital. Long road to recovery, but he's finally happy. He's part of the world instead of hiding away. It's a good feeling I hear.

Overall, it was a fun movie. You spend some of it wincing and going "ooooh...ouch." with all the pain gags. I mean he takes on a large guy by punching broken glass INTO his hands so they'd have more of a punch.

His online friend Roscoe (Ned from Spider-Man movies) helps him whilst throwing sass as any great sidekick would. He helped provide some comic relief, but wasn't really essential to the overall plot. Handy to have around though.

Quaid was his usual self. A tall, gawky, nerdy guy with a heart of gold. It's becoming a bit of a typecast for him, but we love it. Do hope we can see him in other type roles in the future that can show if he truly has range.

While I wouldn't say go see in theaters while you can, definitely give it a watch when it reaches streaming. It's a couple hours of fun hijinks.

4/5...would see again.