In the present day, actor Nic Cage can’t seem to catch a break. He’s struggling to get a decent role in any big blockbuster film, going through a divorce that keeps him in the eyes of the public, in debt, and to top it off, he ruined his daughter’s sixteenth birthday party. With everything falling apart, Nic decides to throw in the towel and give up acting once and for all. However, just when everything seems dark and bleak, Nic is offered a job.
Nic is offered one million dollars to attend the birthday celebration of a rich and wealthy die-hard superfan named Javi (Pedro Pascal). Nic figures life can’t get any worse and accepts the job. But after taking a long flight to his destination, he is greeted by a CIA operative who needs Nic’s help. The CIA suspects Javi is part of some extreme criminal activities, including the kidnapping of a young girl. Nic must now use his massive amounts of talent to save his family and possibly the entire world.
Serving as Nicolas Cage’s 105th film, the actor tackles a role unlike anything he has before; he’s playing himself for the entire film. Naturally, not everything on screen here is completely accurate to the actor’s life. There is so much here that feels so real about Nicolas Cage and yet so many aspects are not accurate, all done for comedic moments. For example, this film shows that the actor has a single child, whereas in real life, Nicolas Cage has a daughter and two sons.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a wonderfully made comedy film. Not just because we see Nicolas Cage act wild and over the top in several scenes (although that is always welcomed), but because it contains so much more. Firstly, the film successfully makes many references to other movies. These include not only the long list of excellent Nicolas Cage films, but many jokes and gags about other actors and popular films. There are themes here that I found surprising and unexpected relating to the importance of a good friendship (aka a bromance) and, let’s not forget, the importance of putting family first no matter how busy or heavy life can be.
Nicolas Cage is tremendous here. The actor is having a fun time on screen, making jokes about himself, but he also seems quite humble and thankful for his journey as an actor. The chemistry shared on-screen between Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal is also excellent, and the friendship that develops throughout the film feels genuine and adorable. Their dialogue is a major highlight as it’s filled with many random moments. Even when a scene has a highly predictable outcome, it’s still amusing as the actors fully commit to their over-the-top roles and never hold back, being outrageous with their energy and spoken words. Supporting roles featuring Tiffany Haddish and Neil Patrick Harris were also a nice touch, and they too bring a fun presence to the craziness.
The visuals here are great, and aspects such as scenery are a nice touch. To my surprise, the film includes moments of CGI, allowing audiences to witness a younger Nic Cage. As for the plot, everything here moves nicely, going from one crazy unexpected moment to another. The third act does lack a few minor aspects with some moments not as funny as everything that led up to it. Some moments also don’t feel as big as the film would lead you to think they will be. Don’t get me wrong- it’s still entertaining. As an audience member I was greedy and just hoped for a bigger bang for the conclusion.
Overall, this film is wild, witty, outrageous, heartwarming and amusing. It is packed with many film references to Nicolas Cage and so much more. There are many moments which may have predictable outcomes, but it’s still fun to see them unfold, especially when Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are filled with so much energy and are having a great time on screen. I had a smile on my face from start to finish, and I found the positive messages relating to family and the power of a good friendship welcoming. It’s brainless, creative, and massively entertaining. The film exceeded my expectations in so many ways and comes highly recommended. Everything critics are saying about this film is true, and as the great actor once said, “Somethings are true whether you believe in them or not”.
9.0/10
15th April 2022
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
PODCASTS ARE AVAILABLE!
0 Comments