Lionsgate
Maybe there’s something in the air of late as the world of meta is more common than ever before. Earlier this year we had the excellent Everything Everywhere All at Once which combined meta reality with a multiverse theory, and now that same self-referential concept instead focuses on the great Nicolas Cage. Cage has commonly been derided as a ridiculous, out of control actor, starring in a lot of stupid movies because of debt issues — but anyone who’s seen him in recent films like Mandy or Pig should have noted that he’s as good as he’s ever been — and he’s never phoned it in.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent comes from director Tom Gormican in his second film feature which he co-wrote with the more established writer Kevin Etten. The movie follows Nicolas Cage playing a version of himself, although one not that far off, one that’s still exaggerated. Cage is desperately trying to get cast in a new respectable movie, also defensive about his enjoyment of working consistently.
But his wife Olivia (Sharon Horgan) and daughter Addy (Lily Sheen, daughter of Michael Sheen and Kate Beckinsale) feel like he cares more about his work than either of them — his wife is estranged and his daughter is embarrassed. Of course, in real life Cage has been married several times and has two sons, one who is over 30, but this is not the ‘real’ Cage. So we have our set-up — Cage is disconnected from his loved ones and frustrated professionally.
At the same time, he sees a vision of his CGIed younger self, who is more parody than reality, and potentially seems to be struggling with reality. So when an offer to be the ‘celeb’ at a billionaire’s birthday comes in for a cool million bucks, which he really could use, Cage sighs and heads out to an island near Catalonia.
There he meets the billionaire superfan Javi (a delightful Pedro Pascal), who not only is Cage’s biggest fan but also wants to collaborate with him on his own screenplay. At first Cage is hesitant, but after the two bond over their love of classic German horror movies, they begin a supremely entertaining bromance — so far, so good, until the ‘plot’ steps in and a CIA agent (Tiffany Haddish) tells him that Javi is actually a weapons dealer.
Not only that, but they need Cage’s help to save a kidnapped girl — a ridiculous premise — but Cage not only feels under-prepared but also concerned about his new friend maybe being a monster. This starts the more action part of the movie, which gets quite ridiculous in all the right ways — the action isn’t what I’d call amazing, but it’s all fun enough and pretty silly.
The movie is really more a comedy about two dudes bonding than anything else, and their chemistry and rapport is the highlight of the movie. It’s also great just to see all of the many, many references to Cage’s long and impressive career, which got a lot of knowing chuckles from the audience I saw it with.
There’s a commentary here too about Cage and the way he’s been perceived for so many years, and his own sort of self-reflection on himself. It’s a commentary about himself, which isn’t something many people get a chance to do — but if anyone deserves it, it’s Nicolas Cage. Maybe the final act is a bit too ridiculous in comparison to the rest, but it was still enjoyable.
Definitely the sort of movie that if you are any sort of fan of Cage, this is a must see — and the more a fan you are, the more you are likely to enjoy this one. Maybe it’s not the best meta movie this year (hard to beat that Michelle Yeoh one after all), but it’s fun from ridiculous start to ridiculous finish.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent has a run time of 1 hour 45 minutes, and is rated R for language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and violence.
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