Directed By Tom Gormican

Starring – Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish

The Plot – The fictionalized version of Nick Cage must accept a $1 million offer to attend the birthday of a dangerous super fan Javi Gutierrez (Pascal). Things take a wildly unexpected turn when Nick Cage is recruited by a CIA operative Vivian (Haddish) and forced to live up to his own legend, channeling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones.

Rated R for adult language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and violence.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022 Movie) Official Trailer – Nicolas Cage – YouTube

POSITIVES

Gormican’s deconstruction of all things Cage is one of the most self-aware films that I have ever seen, piecing together the films and iconic moments in the career of a cinematic madman that the film equally reflects with unabashed chaos. This is not only in the expanding depth of the material, which could’ve easily rested on its laurels by unleashing Cage into the world and watching him chew as much scenery as a pit bull with the munchies, but also in spontaneity of the tonal plausibility’s, which if done improperly can feel like as many as five opposing films fighting for domination at once, but here smoothly mirrors the eclectic nature of its protagonist’s spontaneous film choices, attaining with it a creative air of unpredictability that the script uses to reinvent itself at any moment. To my biggest surprise, there is a clearly defined narrative here that is constantly unraveling itself during the film’s 100-minute progression, resting solely on the shoulders of its evolving on-screen friendship between Cage and Pascal, which cements with it an endearing chemistry between them that feels richly like children who are constantly embracing the spark of their imaginations. Cage is game for the ride, celebrating the craziness of his career and the lore of his legend with a zany turn that feels like the manifestation of every stoner idea about the man that his adoring audience have shared at one smoke-out or another. Cage could certainly play this role in his sleep, but what elevates it to another level is the narcissistic tendencies that he nor the script ever evade in their depiction, leading to memorable moments involving Cage purchasing a statue of himself despite documented financial troubles, or a moment in which Cage literally makes out with himself, which should’ve ceased time and eternity as we know it. In addition, the film’s many visual cues and call-backs to popular films do craft an abundance of guilt-free fan service that intentionally pads the experience, but with necessary intention. Being that this is a reality-shattering premise, the mentions feel fully justified and even harmlessly self-indulgent towards a man who constantly lives in the shadows and stardom of cultural landmarks. These are only slices of the comedic muscle that the film continuously flexes, reaching consistency among effectiveness based not only on the constructs of the gags themselves, but also in the deliveries of its ensemble, with vocal stretching and straining of the most inhuman variety. Beyond the laughs aplenty, the technical elements of production also receive ample time to shine, with an instability for editing and a genre-bending score from Mark Isham influencing the creative transitions that seem to shift every twenty minutes. Such an example pertains to many sight gags involving an abrupt cut away during delivery, and the precision of timing to sell these reactions creating a sense of displacement from reality that works cohesively with or without the drugs that influence his daily routine.

NEGATIVES

Even despite the film’s constant embrace of the mayhem and macabre that have stalked Cage’s legacy, I still felt it was a bit subdued compared to some of his craziest experiences throughout his filmography. This is where the rating is a bit of a letdown, as its used almost entirely for adult language purposes instead of visceral violence that could’ve elevated the stakes and surrealness to boldly endearing new waters. In particular, the action sequences, while performed finely enough on a technical level, don’t polish with them any semblance of the gratuitous nature that have made “Mandy” or “Pig” the memorable stand-outs in the third act of his career. Because of such, it often feels like it’s catering more to the fans of Cage who enjoyed him during the biggest grossing films of his career instead of the indie resurgence he’s recently enjoyed, in turn leaving “Massive Talent” periodically prejudiced for the elements that take Cage to an entirely unreachable next level. Uninspiring decisions also make their presence felt in other creative areas, like the first act stalling in its unraveling of the plot, and the third act switching entirely to action while sacrificing every element of its momentum-building humor. This strips it of the one unique aspect of its identity while reducing it to just another generic action film, with none of the thrills nor compelling cinematography to boost it to the next level. Finally, the stacked trades of wasted ensemble become a bit much by the third act, as Haddish and Ike Barinholtz (Who I’m a huge fan of) are essentially forgotten, with one receiving an off-screen death, and the other feeling like they’re being given table scrap dialogue to constitute the air of their casting. In fact, their relevancy on screen is so minimal, especially their interaction with Cage, that it often feels like a cameo that each of them did as a favor to the director, with no requirement for either of them to be on set for the duration of their otherwise forgettable portrayals.

OVERALL

Originally raucous and wildly funny, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” takes everything eccentric about Cage, and blends it into a cathartic concoction that goes down surprisingly smooth. Though not as candidly chaotic as its iconic frontman would have you believe, the fourth-wall shattering instead supplants a divisive front for the touching love-letter to family, film, and friendship that the script actually envelopes, though in Cage’s case, not always in that order.

My Grade: 7/10 or C+