Novocaine: Won’t Leave You “Numb”

If you are looking for a fun, violent, action-comedy movie, I recommend "Novocaine!"  It's an action/suspense/thriller that's also very funny.  The movie has a creative plot and holds your interest.  Those who don't like violence should avoid it, but the violence is a crucial aspect of the film, and isn't excessive or unwatchable (as it was in "The Substance"). Nate (Jack Quaid – son of Dennis Quaid & Meg Ryan) is a shy, awkward, single man.  He works at a bank as an Assistant Manager.  Nate lives alone, and his only friend is a video game opponent who he has never met.  He likes and is attracted to a recently-hired cute teller, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), but lacks the courage to ask her out.  Amber accidentally bumps Nate's arm while he is holding a scalding pot of coffee.  Nate's hand and arm get severely burned.  Sherry apologizes and offers to buy him lunch to atone for Nate's injury.  At lunch, Nate tells her that he has a genetic condition which makes it impossible for him to feel pain.  This is a very dangerous situation, and the average lifespan of the unfortunate individuals that have the condition is only 25 years.  Consequently, when he was diagnosed as a child, he was hovered over by his parents and didn't get the opportunity to socialize much and make friends.  He has to set his watch alarm every three hours or his bladder might burst.  Nate eats only liquid food, lest he bite off his tongue.  At lunch that day, Sherry convinces him to try some apple pie a-la-mode, which she claims is the best in SoCal.  Jack tastes the pie and has a Martin Buber "I-Thou" moment.  Later that night, they have a "magical" date and make love.  Nate has fallen hard for Sherry. The day before Xmas, the bank is robbed by three men wearing Santa Claus outfits.  The manger is shot and killed, Nate gets beaten up, and Sherry is taken hostage!  Nate knows the interesting fact that 75% of hostages who aren't rescued within three hours are killed.  Nate is convinced that Sherry will make his life a happy one and her death will doom him to misery, so he refuses to wait or get help from the police.  Nate immediately takes on the mission to rescue Sherry before she is killed! The rest of the movie involves Nate's rescue attempt, which includes car chases, gunfights, and mano-a-mano fights – with and without weapons – often in unusual locations.  Nate's condition makes for very interesting and humorous fights, in both the injuries he receives and those he inflicts. Does true love conquer all?  You will have to see it to find out!  The movie will work fine as a rental, but there aren't many good films at the theater now.  If you want to get out of the house, go see it, and "Novocaine" will "inject" some energy into you!