Novocaine - Quick Movie Review

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Title: Novocaine

Release Date: 2001-11-16

Genres: Drama, Comedy


High essence:

"The film opens as Frank's going through his dental appointments when he gets a new patient, Susan Ivey (Carter), who will upset his entire life by doing the dirty with him in the dental chair."

"Then a dreary cloud descends as Frank, sharing only a certain industriousness with Martin's Little Shop of Horrors sadist, trudges toward his appointment with fate, guided not only by his night-and-day femmes fatales but also his up-to-something brother Harlan (Elias Koteas)d'-weib,e andustd, est-iDuane (Scott Caan, looking like Chuck Knoblauch on a 'roid rage)."

"Later, when faced with a huge theft of narcotics from his office, Martin lies to an investigating official, and things spiral dramati downward."

"But I also found little to laugh about while watching a dentist's life unravel after becoming involved with a sexy drug addict."

"Frank has a successful practice and is engaged to his blond hygienist, Jean (Laura Dern), who is a lovely, all-American gal."

Medium essence:

Dennis Schwartz:
  • The film opens as Frank's going through his dental appointments when he gets a new patient, Susan Ivey (Carter), who will upset his entire life by doing the dirty with him in the dental chair.
  • Helena Bonham Carter as the femme fatale looked as if she was in the wrong pic.
  • He's engaged to his efficient and attractive dental hygienist, Jean Noble (Dern).

Jessica Winter:
  • and salivates over bad metaphors (Frank's accumulating lies = encroaching dental rot), while the wildly oscillating tone never finds its key.
  • (A little MacMurray moxie is required when the good doc muses that he could have told the authorities all about Susan's scam, but then I never would have seen her again.
  • Then a dreary cloud descends as Frank, sharing only a certain industriousness with Martin's Little Shop of Horrors sadist, trudges toward his appointment with fate, guided not only by his night-and-day femmes fatales but also his up-to-something brother Harlan (Elias Koteas)d'-weib,e andustd, est-iDuane (Scott Caan, looking like Chuck Knoblauch on a 'roid rage).

Claudia Puig:
  • inbox 11/16/2001 - Updated sexuality, language and drug content Novocaine leaves you a bit numb.
  • Later, when faced with a huge theft of narcotics from his office, Martin lies to an investigating official, and things spiral dramati downward.
  • An affluent and genial dentist (Steve Martin) seems to have it all: a thriving autiful, devoted fianc e (Laura Dern); and a meticulous showplace of a home.

Betty Jo Tucker:
  • As Martin's character explains, It all began with one small lie and everything unraveled from there --- like a cavity, the lies were deepening and spreading.
  • But I also found little to laugh about while watching a dentist's life unravel after becoming involved with a sexy drug addict.
  • I did, however, chuckle once or twice at Helena Bonham Carter's quirky performance as a flawed femme fatale.

Eric D. Snider:
  • If you can accept the unlikely way Frank gets into the mess -- by not turning Susan in to the cops early on -- it's an exciting adventure with more than a few good laughs along the way.
  • Snider's Snide Remarks This is to join the for Eric's weekly humor column, Snide Remarks.
  • Frank has a successful practice and is engaged to his blond hygienist, Jean (Laura Dern), who is a lovely, all-American gal.

Low essence:

Dennis Schwartz:
  • David Atkins; screenwriters: based on a story by Paul Felopulos and Mr Atkins;cinematoon; mng by Daman; cast:'s film was only a slightly better experience than getting a root canal.
  • The film opens as Frank's going through his dental appointments when he gets a new patient, Susan Ivey (Carter), who will upset his entire life by doing the dirty with him in the dental chair.
  • Frank's uncomplicated life now gets complicated with lies and it gets further complicated when his troublesome loser brother Harlan (Koteas) arrives unexpectedly and stays in his apartment.
  • When Duane is found dead in Frank's office with the dentist's teeth marks over his body, Frank realizes he's been setup to take the rap.
  • Helena Bonham Carter as the femme fatale looked as if she was in the wrong pic.
  • Frank Sangster (Steve Martin).
  • He's engaged to his efficient and attractive dental hygienist, Jean Noble (Dern).

Jessica Winter:
  • Mobile ARCHIVES 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 New Music Classes ARCHIVES 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 NYC Restaurants Food Blog 99 Essential Restaurants Find a Restaurant Happy Hours Cooking Classes Newsletter Mobile Ads Holiday Spirits Dating ARCHIVES 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 10 New Classes ARCHIVES 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 New York Movies Showtimes By Jessica Winter Tuesday, Nov 13 2001 Double indemnity this week: A pair of well-off but compromised working guys-anesthetedaily roine against looming midlife crisis until a purring gamine bats her eyelashes and yanks off the ether mask-take a dive off the shallow end of the noir pool.
  • and salivates over bad metaphors (Frank's accumulating lies = encroaching dental rot), while the wildly oscillating tone never finds its key.
  • (A little MacMurray moxie is required when the good doc muses that he could have told the authorities all about Susan's scam, but then I never would have seen her again.
  • In Novocaine , bland dentist Frank (Steve Martin) seems contented with his anal-retentive amazon gal pal, Jean (Laura Dern in High Barbie hair).
  • But then lusty wastrel Susan (Helena Bonham Carter, reviving her Fight Club wraith) leaps into the patient's chair, initiates a mutually satisfying root canal, and then steals all his drugs.
  • None ope dementedly enough, wh a credit-sequence montage of X-ray stock footage (b skulls chew, swallow, apply lipstick) accompanied by Danny Elfman's most maniacal theme yet-the celestial voices shriek, the string section riots, the bass drum implodes.
  • Then a dreary cloud descends as Frank, sharing only a certain industriousness with Martin's Little Shop of Horrors sadist, trudges toward his appointment with fate, guided not only by his night-and-day femmes fatales but also his up-to-something brother Harlan (Elias Koteas)d'-weib,e andustd, est-iDuane (Scott Caan, looking like Chuck Knoblauch on a 'roid rage).

Claudia Puig:
  • inbox 11/16/2001 - Updated sexuality, language and drug content Novocaine leaves you a bit numb.
  • Later, when faced with a huge theft of narcotics from his office, Martin lies to an investigating official, and things spiral dramati downward.
  • Lies and deceit lead to murder and more lies and deceit.
  • One of the weaker links, though, is Bonham Carter, who seems to be playing the same disaffected punk that she did in Fight Club .
  • An affluent and genial dentist (Steve Martin) seems to have it all: a thriving autiful, devoted fianc e (Laura Dern); and a meticulous showplace of a home.
  • When a sexy, mysterious patient (Helena Bonham Carter) appears in his office, right at closing time, his well-ordered life is upended.

Betty Jo Tucker:
  • Trying to be Miss Perfect, she insists on placing objects in their right places, even her stuffed animals.
  • As Martin's character explains, It all began with one small lie and everything unraveled from there --- like a cavity, the lies were deepening and spreading.
  • Finding Kevin Bacon ( Hollow Man ) in a small role here surprised me, but I was delighted with his humorous cameo as a self-centered actor who goes undercover with the police to obtain material for his new movie.
  • Although root canals, dental X-rays, and tooth extractions are not usually considered high drama, they certainly add to the suspense of Novocaine.
  • A crime drama?
  • But I also found little to laugh about while watching a dentist's life unravel after becoming involved with a sexy drug addict.
  • I did, however, chuckle once or twice at Helena Bonham Carter's quirky performance as a flawed femme fatale.

Eric D. Snider:
  • If you can accept the unlikely way Frank gets into the mess -- by not turning Susan in to the cops early on -- it's an exciting adventure with more than a few good laughs along the way.
  • Snider's Snide Remarks This is to join the for Eric's weekly humor column, Snide Remarks.
  • Frank has a successful practice and is engaged to his blond hygienist, Jean (Laura Dern), who is a lovely, all-American gal.

Source:
http://www.ericdsnider.com/movies/novocaine/
http://www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=review&id=105
http://www.sover.net/~ozus/novocaine.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-11-16-novocaine-review.htm
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0146/winter.php