The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Nicholas / Nick Cage’s (played by himself) life is a mess. Divorced, failing to connect with his daughter, and no job offers except for a steady stream of B movies, he decides to quit acting. For good this time. His self-centred and shady agent (Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met your Mother), is eager to hoover up all he can from his golden goose before it stops laying eggs, so doesn’t ask too much questions when he’s offered a cool million for Nick to make an appearance at a billionaire’s birthday party. Nick is amazed to find that superfan, Javi (Pedro Pascal – Mandalorian / Game of Thrones) shares his taste in films. The more they discuss them, the more they seem to be drafting a dialogue-driven, character-driven screenplay that Nick would be perfect for…

Just as things start looking up, Vivian (Tiffany Haddish – Night School) from the CIA arrives, persuading Nick to spy for her. Turns out Javi’s the head of a cartel, and implicated in the kidnapping of a young girl. Once Javi finds out of Nick’s betrayal, he wants to kill him with his bare hands. Nick obviously will do everything to stop this, but how can either kill their newly-discovered kindred spirit?

Perhaps unsurprising, Cage gives a tour de force playing himself, and Pascal is at his most affable. The chemistry and budding friendship between the two not only brings warmth to the film, but grounds the delightfully varied humour that just keeps coming. Definitely one to watch!

Natalie Tyldesley-Marshall