Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage is nothing short of a true Hollywood icon, and while the past few years may have seen most of his movies released on VoD or head straight to streaming, he maintains a fiercely loyal fanbase, and a continues to produce a hugely energetic and eclectic body of work which might not hit the Box Office heights of The Rock, or National Treasure, but is truly something to behold. Yet, while the heyday of Raising Arizona, Leaving Las Vegas, or Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, may be in the past, Nic is still here, still working, and has just starred in the best Nic Cage movie in decades; The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent.
Playing a fictionalised version of himself who, with a waining career, and increasingly distant family, decides to quit acting, Cage agrees to attend a wealthy man’s birthday party for a quick payday. Yet the wealthy movie-buff, and Nic-Cage super-fan (played by The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal), might not be all he seems, as Cage is quickly approached by a C.I.A. agent (Tiffany Haddish, Girls’ Trip), turned into a bumbling spy, and asked to gather evidence against his adoring host.
It’s a ridiculous premise, barely worthy of a script-treatment, so it’s no wonder Cage himself turned the project down numerous times before finally accepting, but, somehow it exists, and this movie not only ends up filled with bucket-loads of heart, but remains enjoyable, engaging, and witty throughout, because in the end The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent is heaps of fun.
Cage’s semi-introspective portrayal of himself; part-joke, part-not; is brilliant. It’s over-the-top, yet somehow simultaneously subtle, it’s laced with self-deprecating comedy and true emotion, but thankfully never becomes too pitiful or begging. Like the entire film, it’s a love letter to the craziness we know, everything that has made Cage a legend, where he’s at now, and the promise of everything still to come. Perfectly treading the line between self-pity and self-aggrandisement, it’s wonderfully watchable, and a superbly rounded, almost-caricature, portrayal of the man behind the man we love to see on screen.
Yet it’s not only Cage who shines, as Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of the wealthy Cage-fan is what holds the whole film together. His adoring, almost gushing, fanboy nature contrasting with an underlying potential for threat and making him a funny, heart-warming, endearing, and very intriguing character to watch. Unlike many of the supporting characters; including Cage’s wife and daughter (Sharon Horgan and Lily Mo Sheen respectively), C.I.A. agents Vivian and Martin (Haddish, and the sadly under-used Ike Barinholtz), and anyone else (including Neil Patrick Harris as Cage’s agent); who seem to have been written as simple two-dimensional after-thoughts to Cage and Pedro’s on-screen bromance.
Although, their under-developed nature remains fairly inconsequential, because it’s the bromance which is the true heart of The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent; a buddy comedy the likes of which haven’t been seen in a long long time. Cage and Pascal’s chemistry is exceptional, it’s flawless, and even though it’s utterly over-the-top, and the entire premise is ridiculous, they somehow keep it grounded, engaging, and fun.
Cage fans will have plenty to latch on to with numerous nods, easter-eggs, references, and not-so-subtle mentions of his pervious work; with everything from Face/Off, The Rock, The Croods 2, The Wicker Man, Mandy, and even Guarding Tess getting a mention (Massive Talent even opens with the Con Air finale). There’s also car chases, gun fights, slapstick comedy (going fully Johnny English at one point), drama, the inclusion of an invisible friend (Nic, de-aged and appearing as his crazy “WOO” early 1990s self and being severely disappointed in Cage’s current state), and so much meta commentary and narration you might even wonder where the film ends and real life begins.
But it’s far from a perfect movie. It’s patchy in places, bloated in the middle, some scenes/gags drag on too long yet others are over-edited (even funny moments from the trailer are cut), and the whole thing is undeniably stupid, and ridiculously far-fetched. So, while The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent is fun, it’s far from funny enough.
Still, Cage fans will get a kick out of the absurdity, and seeing Nic play himself. Pedro does plenty for everyone else to enjoy, and the pair gel perfectly; creating the best romantic comedy seen in years. It’s a shame it’s not as funny as the trailer and initial reactions suggested, that it’s patchy, that Nicky is underused (possibly due to questionable de-ageing cgi), and the whole thing is a little too daft. But the absurdity is also part of the charm, and The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent is wonderfully charming; set in a holiday destination where golden-hour never ends, it’s an enjoyable, feel-good, chemistry-filled buddy comedy, which is sure to amuse and delight Nicolas Cage fans and everybody else. Plus, a film which shows this much love for Paddington 2, and not only fills you with nostalgia (and makes you want to rewatch all of Cage’s greatest hits) but hope for the future, has to be good.
A fun film, which doesn’t quite live up to the hype (due to a few bloated scenes, and not enough humour), but nevertheless an enjoyable affair which is sure to entertain film-fans, and leave you with a warm, fuzzy, feeling knowing that The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent proves Nic Cage is back… not that he ever went anywhere.
