Saturday night I went to see the new Nicolas Cage film ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ and it’s a real treat for the Nic Cage fans, of which I am one. This film pays homage to Cage’s career which is so vast across many different genres. If you had a number of Nicolas Cage fans in one room, they’d probably all have a different favourite film of his!

Going in I’m not too sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this – it far exceeded my expectations.

It’s a fun film to watch and you’ll have plenty of laughs along the way. There are lots of references to an array of Cage’s films which fans and non-fans alike will enjoy. For myself a hallmark of a Nicolas Cage film is a “screaming scene”. One that immediately springs to mind is the bathroom scene from Mandy (YouTube that if you haven’t seen it). There are a good selection of these type of moments in this film which I was very happy with!

Something that I also found interesting was the personification of the Nick’s ego, represented as a younger version of himself called “Nicky” with use of VFX technology. This technology is all the rage a the moment, giving actors and fans alike a glimpse back to a past character and exploring their story. Here it’s used more as an additional character rather than a call back to one specific film role but it works. Having Nicolas Cage play off against a more manic version of himself not only provides a comedic element but also some motivation to drive plot forward.

I found the film to be of great entertainment value and well paced. There is no time to be bored, everything feels like it needs to be there. It’s also a good balance between comedy and action with a great story progression. You have your typical hollywood blockbuster action sequences with some car chase scenes, that easily bring in some references to Gone in 60 Seconds. It was funny, clever, and takes you down a path that you wouldn’t quite expect.

Cage is paired with Pedro Pascal, who plays the “wealthy man” paying Nick $1M to be at his birthday party, who also turns out to be a super-fan. The two play really well off each other and you easily buy into the friendship that the two forge. Without the chemistry between Cage and Pascal this would have been a lesser film that just would not have worked. The relationship between the two as both cast members and characters is pivotal and has paid off. There is plenty to like here.

It’s probably one that can wait until it’s available on a streaming service to watch rather than at the cinema, you’ll have an enjoyable night in. If you’re a Nicolas Cage fan, it’s a must see. If not but you like action flicks, you’re still going to love it.

Rating:  Good