To listen to myself and two other amazing LAMB members
discuss this movie in detail, check out the LAMBCast: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/lambcast/episodes/2022-04-26T14_11_33-07_00
Nicolas Cage is one of those actors who has occasionally had his work overshadowed by his personal life. From naming his son Kal-El to perhaps buying a mummy, there have been rumors about wild living and excessive spending on top of some truly eccentric behavior for years. However, he still managed to have enough of a sense of humor about himself to star as a fictionalized version of Nick Cage in this charming flick.
The movie starts with Nick Cage being desperate to get a new role that he believes will put him ‘back on top’. He’s recovering from a divorce and living in a hotel, racking up massive debt. Out of the blue, his agent informs him that he has an offer from a mysterious businessman to receive one million dollars to come to the businessman’s birthday party. Despite being very skeptical, he needs the money, and sets out to the villa.
Javi, the businessman, is a huge Nick Cage superfan and has written a screenplay he wants Nick to star in. While there, Nick is collected by the CIA and told that Javi is suspected to be an international gun-runner and now Nick will need to help them collect intel. From there, hijinks ensue as Nick tries to get right with himself, his family, Javi, and life in general.
The movie is written and directed by Tom Gormican and is
exactly as silly and fun as you expect. I am not sure there are any other
actors that would have been able to pull off this level of nonsense. The movie at no point makes fun of Nick Cage
and manages to let him come off as genuine and excited about his work ethic and
career – embracing some of his more questionable choices in the past.
Nicholas Cage has been very clear that this is a
fictionalized version of himself, and he does get to place both current Nick
Cage and his imaginary friend, a younger version of himself going by Nicky who
seems to fuel his more unbridled behavior.
He seems to be having a great time, and this is definitely a treat to
watch him delicately walk between introspection and slapstick comedy. In
particular, the scene where he accidentally tranquilizes himself while attempting
to plant a bug in Javi’s security office is fantastic.
While the movie is absolutely all about Nick Cage, Pedro Pascal still manages to steal several scenes. He is sweet and charming, professing his fandom to Nick while attempting not to ‘spook’ him by being too creepy. I am not sure any other actor could have provided this perfect counterpoint to the whirlwind that is Nick Cage.
Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholz play the CIA agents and both of them seem to be just over cameo roles. They are there just to move the story along and are certainly entertaining enough for the brief moments.
Sharon Horgan plays Nick’s ex-wife Olivia and Lily Sheen (Michael Sheen and Kate Beckinsdale’s daughter) plays his daughter Addy. They manage to get swept up into the action as Nick has to solve the mess that the CIA creates.
Overall, the movie is quick and fun with some hilarious comedy and some surprising good action sequences. It is definitely worth checking out!
8 out of 10
I think maybe Tom Cruise is the only other actor who I would
like to see in something like this. After all, his role in Tropic Thunder shows
he can have fun about himself from time to time.
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