⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Rated R | 109 minutes

Let’s get this out of the way first… Paramount Pictures’ “Novocaine” has absolutely zero to do with dentistry, but may leave you feeling numb nontheless. Don’t get me wrong, the film was entertaining, but if you start drilling down into almost anything about the plot, it spins apart quickly.

Jack Quaid plays Nathan Caine, a meek banker who has a rare condition that prevents him from being able to feel any sort of pain. Because of this, he lives his life carefully. Not quite a bubble-boy, but still sheltered. He spends his evenings playing video games and chatting with his online best friend Roscoe, played by “everyone’s friend” Jacob Batalon.

The screening I attended was a special “4DX” presentation… a special effects showcase that utilizes moving seats, blasts of air, squirts of water, special lighting and fog effects timed with the action on the screen. Normally, the 4DX seats spring into action as soon as the film begins…but this film was different.

It’s important to state how much the 4DX tech actually added to the film. It was expertly used in ways I haven’t seen before. If you saw the viral videos surrounding the release of “Twisters” in this format, you might remember scenes of drinks and popcorn splayed across the floor. That should give you a general idea of what to expect… but let me explain how this film was different.

“Novocaine” starts out like a romantic comedy… we meet Quaid’s perfectly pleasant if not quirky main character, see his somewhat boring work-life, and the girl who captures his atttention…the cheerful and somewhat mysterious Sherry, played by Amber Midthunder. Quaid and Midthunder have great chemistry on-screen, even if you do have to question how those two could ever be an item. Perhaps that’s the point as there’s a lot in this film that’s hard to explain at times.

Overally, it’s a pretty calm start to a film that’s directly reflected with the under-utilization of the 4DX technology. So little so, that at first, I thought maybe they had forgotten to activate them for our screening. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There were a few thumps and buzzes on screen that registered light action on the seats, just enough to let you know that yes, these seats are active. Enjoy the peace while you can, because things jump into action really quickly.

Once everyone and everything is established complete with a datenight that leaves Caine with a new outlook on life (which takes maybe 15 minutes total), we come to the main event: a bank robbery gone wrong, that results in the kidnapping of Sherry. When the robbery begins, the seats spring into action. The first punch of the film is quite literally felt across the entire auditorium. I’ve never experienced a film that can punch back. We weren’t tilting all around just yet, but the seats were actually punching and prodding, in time with the action on screen.

The lead robber, Simon, is a bad dude… like, sure, robbing a bank is bad enough, but this guy is downright psychotic. Played oh-so-diabolically by Jack Nicholson’s son Ray. You may remember Ray’s familial trademark smile from last year’s “Smile 2”, also from Paramount Pictures.

The robbery goes wrong quickly and sends the film into high-gear as Caine decides it’s time that he fights for what he believes in: Sherry. While it’s pretty hard to believe a guy as meek and “flimsy” as Caine could take on action to match the likes of John Wick, we’re shown that without pain to slow you down… you can do almost anything.

While Caine is out fighting for his life and for Sherry, he’s pursued by comic relief cops played by a sarcastic Matt Walsh and pushover Betty Gabriel – cops that basically roll over and go “okay” when Caine explains he’s got to rescuse Sherry on his own and they should leave him alone. Not sure why they’re there other than some well-timed humor, but hey, I’ll take Matt Walsh in a film anytime.

The 4DX enhanced showing absolutely added to the joy we experienced while watching the film. It’s got truly funny moments, gory-at-times violence, and a not-taking-it-seriously vibe that fits because it’s tossing the audience around like rag dolls – punching us left and right while splashing us with water everytime blood splatters on screen.

I had never felt so “in the movie” as I had since last watching “Twisters” in this format… but I would even venture to say that “Novocaine” steps it up and brings the audience along for the ride. After that initial quiet of the film’s first few scenes, they never let off the gas again.

As I mentioned earlier, the plot is light on detail and depth, but it’s a fun watch and will make it very difficult to eat your popcorn. Make sure your drink’s lid is on tight as well. Or, just don’t see it in 4DX…however, if we had seen this in a regular setting, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. I wouldn’t have hated it, but I wouldn’t have loved it either.

I love 4DX tech, and I don’t think it’s used as well as it could be for most films. Whereas it’s usually a gimmick to upcharge customers, for “Novocaine” in particular, it adds something you can’t get with a regular showing. You become a character in the film as you join Caine on his quest to rescue his new-found love.

If you want a film where you really can turn your brain off and just enjoy getting tossed around like a theme park ride – see “Novocaine” in 4DX. Otherwise, skip the theater and wait for it to his streaming/digital. Still worth a watch, just no need to go out of your way unless you want to pay to get punched by your movie seat (and for me, that’s a positive!)