Our take
Novocaine is an R-rated action comedy about a man who cannot feel pain. Bank robbers trigger wildly creative, bloody set pieces: fingernail torture, fry-oil burns, impalements, and on-screen surgery played for dark humor. Expect roughly 60 f-words and bullying backstory references
Uplifting themes
Perseverance and protecting someone you love drive the hero Lead shows loyalty, though methods are extremely violent
Story (may spoil tone)
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Graphic shootings, torture, impalements, and self-surgery played for ac…
Graphic shootings, torture, impalements, and self-surgery played for action comedy
Language Heavy profanity including dozens of f-words
Heavy profanity including dozens of f-words
Sex / nudity No sex found in this title
No sex found in this title
Drugs / alcohol Adults drink socially in a few scenes
Adults drink socially in a few scenes
Frightening Hostage bank robbery and chase sequences are intense
Hostage bank robbery and chase sequences are intense
Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title
No self-harm found in this title
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse No child peril found in this title
No child peril found in this title
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons Close-up burns, bone breaks, eye trauma, and blood pools
Close-up burns, bone breaks, eye trauma, and blood pools
Dangerous behaviour Hero shrugs off deadly stunts that would kill anyone else
Hero shrugs off deadly stunts that would kill anyone else
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Bullying nickname and self-harm scars referenced
Bullying nickname and self-harm scars referenced
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement No grief found in this title
No grief found in this title
Talk after watching
- Does not feeling pain make someone invincible in real life?
- Comedy violence can still look disturbing. Which stunts felt too graphic?