Movie Review: 'Novocaine'

His middle school classmates called him “Novocaine” due to his congenital insensitivity to pain, known as congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), which he has had since birth. This results in his being fearful of eating solid foods, participating in strenuous activities and entering into a relationship with another person.

As an adult, Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) suffers from the same condition but now works as an assistant manager at a credit union in San Diego. He goes about his day drinking power drinks and gazing longingly at women – especially one.

His love interest is Sherry Margrave (Amber Midthunder), an employee at his credit union. The attraction is mutual. Sherry takes action one day by inviting Nathan for a drink after work.

At first, he’s not so sure, but finally says yes. She has far greater interest in establishing a relationship with him than he does with her. The drink meeting leads to a bed meeting later that night. The next morning he awakens to an empty bed, Sherry has already left.

At work later that day, they decide to meet for dinner – she has a favorite restaurant she thinks he would enjoy. He is again reluctant, but in the end agrees. He hesitated because he has never eaten solid food before for fear of biting off his tongue. With his unique “pain” condition he wouldn’t know if he did.

They meet again and, in addition to experiencing love for a woman, he develops a passion for food. Especially a cherry tart she introduces him to. All is good until the next day, Christmas Eve morning.

The credit union has just opened and the staff is listening to a holiday message from the manager. He’s just finished when a gang of bank robbers dressed as Santas enter the bank and begin yelling and shooting. Of course, they are there for the tellers’ cash, but more importantly, the combination to the safe.

When the police arrive, the robbers hastily grab some money and head for the exit, taking Sherry along as a hostage. As they flee the scene so does Nathan.

Impulsively, he runs to an empty police car, hops in and chases the car in which Sherry is held. Oops!

He follows the wrong car and ends up in the middle of a robbery in the kitchen of a restaurant. Shots are fired with one person dead. The police are called and besides the bank robbers, they now have another suspect to search for, the perpetrator of the kitchen death – Nathan.                

Regardless of now being a police murder suspect, Nathan continues his investigation and search for Sherry. Leaving a trail of violence behind, the former mild-mannered assistant bank manager finally discovers the location of the robbers hideout.

Bursting into a little used garage/repair shop Nathan finds the gang of thieves. He is shocked to find Sherry sitting calmly among them – she is sister to one of the gang members.

Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen (Credits: Significant Other, Villains), “Novocaine” runs 110 minutes and is a “see” for an unusual comedy/thriller story with Jack Quaid as the star. His parents, Meg and Dennis, should be proud of his achievement.