THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT review

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (hereafter simply referred to as “MASSIVE TALENT”) is directed by Tom Gormican. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan, Ike Barinholtz, Alessandra Mastronardi, Jacob Scipio, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tiffany Haddish.

Nicolas Cage is down on his luck, considering quitting acting when he doesn’t get a role he seeks and finds his relationship with his former wife and lover strained. He’s also hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. But he gets an offer to do an appearance for a fan in Italy for a substantial amount of money, reluctantly accepting it to cover his financial obligation. Forging a friendship with his host, he’s shocked to learn from US Government agents that his host may be a criminal who has kidnapped the daughter of a prominent politician! Cage finds himself conflicted… but is everything as it seems?

Nicolas Cage playing Nicolas Cage. The sheer absurdity of this project as well as how ludicrously funny it looked in the trailer had me excited for this film and the laughs it would surely bring. The R-rated comedy certainly brings it in the laughs department; this is ironically Cage’s best performance in a film in years. It’s a laugh-out-loud hilarious movie; the scenes with Cage and Pascal are priceless. And while it does fall into too-familiar territory in its third act, there’s no denying it’s the laugh fest you’re looking for.

Nicolas Cage chews up the scenery in every single moment of this movie, regardless of what the scene requires. Whether it’s being in an altercation with an alter-ego of himself in his head, trying to bond with his estranged family, or connecting with a benefactor who’s the ultimate fanboy and has the collection to back it up, Cage is hilarious here. I was worried that this film may implode on itself and feel like an over-the-top parody. One of the last things I expected would be that the movie would have a heart, but it does. It’s surprisingly entertaining, and while it’s a comedy first and a drama second, even some of those dramatic moments still feel authentic.

The premise here and its execution alike don’t fail to please. The film presents hilarious situations, combining them with interesting characters and a plot. Cage’s chemistry with everyone in the movie is completely and totally believable. The experience feels surprisingly authentic. From exotic locales to comedic situations fueled by over-the-top situations or drug use, the film speaks for itself. The trailer for the film is a pretty good indicator of what to expect here, but I’m also happy to announce that the previews don’t spoil all of the movie’s best laughs.

If the movie falls flat in one area, it’s the subplot regarding kidnapping/gangs/action/etc. I love guns, explosions, and car chases as much as the next moviegoer … but did THIS movie really need them? The best scenes are the comedic moments between Cage and Pascal, including drug-fueled paranoia and their coming to terms with one another. Ironically, bringing all this to the table makes the movie’s third act feel too much like a typical Nicolas Cage action movie. Sticking to the more comedic and dramatic elements without all this would’ve made for a better picture, but I won’t deny I was entertained.

MASSIVE TALENT is Nicolas Cage doing Nicolas Cage… and bless him for that. While some subplots and elements feel tertiary and unneeded, I won’t deny that I had a ton of fun with this one. Over-the-top hilarious while still having a heart, this is a fantastic comedy that ranks among the most fun I’ve had at the theater in 2022 so far. Strongly recommended!