26 Apr The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Review

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT

dir. Tom Gormican, starring Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish, and Sharon Hogan

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, an action comedy starring Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal, focuses on a version of worldwide famous Hollywood actor Nic Cage as his run of bad luck on movies has led him to the island of Javi Gutierrez, Nic Cage superfan. Gutierrez, attempting to convince Cage to produce a script he’s written, is also under investigation by the CIA for illegal activities. Realizing that Cage can provide them information on the whereabouts of a missing girl kidnapped by Gutierrez, the CIA approaches Cage to go undercover as their mole inside.

Trading in on the jokes that Nic Cage will take any role, Unbearable Weight is surprisingly deft at how it balances the real-world public persona of Nic Cage and the slightly exaggerated fictionalized version of him. Sometimes accompanied/haunted by a younger mental projection of himself (credited as Nicholas Kim Coppola, his real name), Nic Cage (the fictional one) struggles with landing meaty, prominent roles at this stage in his career. His constant and incessant need to always be working has put him at odds with his ex-wife and daughter, the core of the movie and the narrative seed that the film spends the rest of its runtime germinating. Without Cage’s desire to become a better father and be more available for his daughter, the movie would’ve quickly fallen under the weight of its otherwise ridiculous premise. Thankfully, director Tom Gormican (who also co-wrote the script with Kevin Etten) was able to craft a story of two men struggling to come to terms with what they desire most. In Javi’s case, it’s Gabriela, the obviously perfect match for him, but kept distant due to unfortunate circumstances. Reminiscent of Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, Unbearable Weight plays with the tropes and expectations levied against it to create a movie that’s equal parts enjoyable and satisfying.

Starring Nic Cage, Unbearable Weight is his story. The fact that the actor is self aware enough to know his place in pop culture and be able to play with the mythos that surrounds him, Cage approaches the movie with a zest only he could muster. Playing both himself and a mental projection of himself that occasionally dispenses less than helpful advice, Cage shows yet again he’s one of the most dynamic and enigmatic actors working. Here, he’s delightful as his stylized self, willing to be vulnerable, boorish, and off the rails. Cage delivers what you’d expect: a bananas performance that is sure to garner laughs and positive feedback.

Pedro Pascal brings the warmth to the movie in ways that are equally funny and genuinely tender. Playing Javi Gutierrez, a Nicolas Cage superfan, Pascal fawns and dotes over Cage while maintaining an air of mystery about him. Pascal is to comedy like a fish is to water, and while most of his resume boasts dramatic work, his comedic presence and delivery rivals Cage’s when the two share the screen. The chemistry between the two actors is the bond of the entire film and both Cage and Pascal manage to cultivate a friendship that goes down as one of the most wholesome in film.

Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz also star in the movie as CIA agents investigating Javi as a possible arms dealer, attempting to influence the election of a local government whose new leader might be pliable to his desires. Entering the film in the second act, the agents are the catalyst for change in the movie, giving Cage’s character purpose beyond merely existing and hanging out on Javi’s island. Both Haddish and Barinholtz are delightful in their roles, with Haddish taking the lead between the two as Cage’s liaison. Unfortunately, their exits from the story are handled sloppily, and while the two don’t get a lot of screen time, more service should’ve been done to how the characters were handled.

Sharon Horgan and Lily Sheen play this fictional version of Nic Cage’s wife and daughter, respectively. While absent from the second act, both actresses establish enough presence in the first act to make an impact when they return to the story down the road. Props must be given to Sharon Horgan as she deals with Cage’s downward spiral in the film’s beginning, delivering a character that is both frustrated with Cage and yet sympathetic to his situations.

Co-written and directed by Tom Gormican, Unbearable Weight follows the old reliable standard of pacing within action comedies or dramadies: a lot of the jokes are front loaded, and when things get real in the second act turn, those jokes are replaced by the weight of the situation. Throughout the film, Gormican does a great job of setting plants for future payoffs, even when they’re obvious ones (the phrase Chekov’s gun comes to mind). Gormican approaches the action in a similar manner to a number of his predecessors before him: not outright goofy like action in, say, Austin Powers but not strictly serious either (like, say, The Rock). The result is something in between, a lighthearted approach with a villain that’s sinister but not quite scary and set pieces that, when compared to other action comedies, pass the muster.

Overall, Unbearable Weight is a delight of a movie. A number of silly references to the past works of one of America’s favorite actors, coupled with solid performances from the leads and a strong narrative throughline, the movie is a blast from beginning to end. Nicolas Cage is a great sport about revisiting his past roles and Pedro Pescal brings an earnestness to the story that continues to prove why he’s such an in-demand actor. Tom Gormican’s direction and dazzling locales give the movie a visual flair that accentuates the overall weirdness of the premise. A fun ride from beginning to end, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a must see for the year. Unbearable Weight is currently in theaters.

Review by Darryl Mansel