Going into a film with expectations, especially lofty ones, is a tough gambit. Once that bar is set, it’s tough to ever live up to it. That’s why there will always be the “the book was better” crowd. For that reason, I try not to get too excited about new movies but I made the choice to attend a Thursday night preview showing because I had faith in this idea. I gave it my Editor’s Pick for a reason and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent delivers on its promise of a neurotic Nick Cage in an admittedly absurd situation but supports it with much more heart and substance than you might expect.
A down-on-his-luck, extra neurotic, caricatured Nicolas Cage is on the verge of quitting acting when he accepts an offer to attend a wealthy stranger’s birthday party and gets dragged into a world of crime and espionage. Battling his own ego and a substantial amount of guilt, the actor must make some difficult choices in the face of impending danger.
From what I have read, Cage turned down this film on several occasions before finally getting on board. I get it. He was being asked to play the most exaggerated and eccentric version of himself as if every weird rumor about him was true. The movie does indeed make fun of those ideas but director Tom Gormican and co-writer Kevin Etten also have a very deep love and appreciation for Cage, his ability, and his substantial career. In the end, Gormican wrote his star a letter that expressed that sentiment and I’m glad it all worked out because the film is a treat.
In many ways, it’s the best of both worlds from Cage. The outlandish premise and the overemphasized character provide a great foundation for the “Cage Rage” kind of stuff that has made him into a cult icon. Even as a longtime fan who appreciates his nuanced work, I can’t deny how entertaining he is in those kinds of moments. However, beyond that, there’s also some introspective character work that finds its home within the context of this crazy story and lands effectively. The screenplay from Etten and Gormican is well-researched, well-written, and it’s hilarious. Not everything is a punchline, which I appreciate. A lot of thought and care went into crafting the humor here and it succeeds in both subtlety and slapstick. Naturally, it required a very complex performance from the Oscar-winner. In that regard, it actually plays to both ends of his fanbase as a result and maybe reminded some people of how compelling he can be as a legitimate star. Playing yourself is never easy but this has to be up there with the most enjoyable performances of his career.
Cage got a tremendous dance partner here in Pedro Pascal, playing the rich super fan who pays to have the actor at his birthday party. The two of them are absolutely fantastic together. Pascal spends a lot of his time under the helmet of The Mandalorian but he was the best part of Wonder Woman 1984 and I am glad to see him get more face time. Through his character, Javi, we get to see just how deep the love for Cage goes as the filmmakers lay all that fandom at Pascal’s feet. Fortunately, he knows what to do with it, and watching him try to navigate that nervous energy is a lot of fun. Once they get past that and the two of them start to develop a real friendship, that’s where the movie is at its best. I don’t want to jinx it and I don’t know if anything is in the works already, but I would love to see a sequel with these guys. They play off one another so effortlessly and it would be a shame if they never get to collaborate again.
Those two do the majority of the heavy lifting but I am always happy to see Sharon Horgan. She plays Cage’s ex-wife Olivia and she has a wonderful sense of humor in her own right. We get to see glimpses of it here but, if there is in fact a sequel, I would love for her to get the chance to have a bigger role. I would say the surprise of the film goes to Paco León as Lucas Gutierrez. He is the cousin of Pascal’s character and he’s a little eccentric in his own right. His role grows as the film goes on but I won’t get into it. Neil Patrick Harris and Tiffany Haddish both stick the landing with their respective characters and there are also some interesting cameos to keep an eye out for.
This is a film that’s made for Nicolas Cage’s biggest fans. Heck, it’s made by two of his biggest fans and that’s exactly why it works so well. You could have cast him as some fictional actor with no real-life history, and the whole thing probably still works, but this is a love letter. It’s unabashedly self-aware in that regard and doesn’t waste time being pretentious either. By doing that, it opened up the door for it to actually be a good movie outside of the gimmick (which it certainly is). I have been in his corner for a long time and always give his work a platform when I can. However, whether you feel strongly about him or are completely indifferent, the movie is still plenty enjoyable regardless. It’s better if you have some knowledge of his career but it’s a reminder that Nick Cage is back…not that he ever went anywhere.
Recommendation: See it for ridiculous concept and the adept execution. Stay for the bromance between Cage and Pascal.
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