Nicolas Cage is beyond debate one of the most intriguing actors in movie history. He has a certain quirkiness that leaves an impression on just about every movie he makes.
His over-the-top style of acting often leaves some memorable roles such as his Oscar-winning turn in Leaving Las Vegas or even in some of his action blockbusters like Con Air or Face/Off. However, he also has a slew of horrible movies under his belt such as The Wicker Man or Left Behind.
Well, I’m happy to report that Cage is back in gonzo spirits with his latest vehicle, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent which serves as an uber-meta tribute to both the actor himself and his films.
Cage plays a fictionalized version of himself and perhaps it’s too close for comfort as Cage is struggling for a role that will bring him back on top.
He gets his opportunity to earn $1 million when he’s invited to go to Spain for billionaire Javi Gutierrez’s (Pedro Pascal, Wonder Woman, 1984) birthday party. Javi is a huge Cage fan who wants to work with him on a movie, but Cage declines and contemplates retirement.
Cage is so alienated by his career that it caused his divorce from his ex-wife (Sharon Horgan) and being estranged from his daughter (Lily Sheen).
Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz play CIA agents who believe Javi is an arms dealer and they want Cage to infiltrate his compound to find out any secrets. This leads to a funny sequence in which Cage snoops around, but a substance of some kind rubbed on his forehead causes him to pass out.
What Cage does find out is how big of a fan Javi is when he discovers his man-cave or should I say, Cage-cave filled with different props from Cage’s flicks. There’s even a wax figure of his character from Face/Off complete with twin golden guns. Javi paid $6,000 for the statue. Cage offers $20,000 for it.
We all know Cage loves to go over the top, so does he outdo himself in that department? Yes and no. He certainly has moments of patented inspired lunacy as when he talks to a younger version of himself named Nicky which does supply more laughs. However, other scenes do feature humor that’s a bit more subdued while maintaining its self-conscious absurdity.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is equal parts dark comedy, action thriller and a meditation on one man’s career and the industry itself. There’s hardly a scene that doesn’t consciously reference one of Cage’s films. Everything from Guarding Tess to Gone in 60 Seconds gets a wink.
As a plot, it sometimes suffers from a predictably narrative arc, but the humor and performances from Cage and Pascal are winning through and through.
We can tell that they had a great time making it and I had a great time seeing it.
Grade: A-
(Rated R for language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and violence.)
