“Novocaine”

(Action/Dark Comedy: 1 hour, 50 minutes)

Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder and Ray Nicholson

Directors: Dan Berk and Robert Olsen

Rated: R (Strong bloody violence, grisly bloody images and strong language throughout)

Movie Review:

“Novocaine” will probably become a hit in the form of a cult classic in the future. It is an engaging action movie with plenty of creative concepts. It also has the perfect leading actor Jack Henry Quaid, the son of the famous actors Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

Quaid plays an assistant bank manager Nathan “Novocaine” Caine, a man who suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). He cannot feel pain. He can feel love when he finds the woman of his dreams, Sherry (Midthunder), at just the wrong time. While at the bank one day, Nathan, Sherry and several of their coworkers are terrorized by Santa Claus bank robbers who take Sherry as their hostage for their escape plan. Caine, a man seriously in love, decides to pursue the bank robbers. Caine encounters many dangers, but it is a good thing he cannot feel pain. His body undergoes serious punishment to save the woman he only has been dating for a short period.

“Novocaine” is not a movie for people who do not like very intense violent content and gore. It is a very graphic action film. It is also a comedy. Both elements entertain. The more damaged Nathan’s body becomes the more comical his mission becomes to save Sherry. Multiple audience members should find this movie a pleasing form of cinematic entertainment unless you need two shots of novocaine to numb a queasy stomach.

Grade: B (We are feeling it.)

“The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie”

(Animation/Science Fiction: 1 hour, 31 minutes)

Starring Voices: Eric Bauza, Candi Milo and Peter MacNicol

Director: Peter Browngardt

Rated: PG (Violence/action, crude/suggestive humor )

Movie Review:

“The Day the Earth Blew Up” is an animated science-fiction horror feature of commonplace tropes. It is a movie similar to the sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s such as “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951) and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956). Additionally, it is a conglomerate of some modern movies too. The movie also has zombies and a scene similar to “Armageddon” (1998). There are some funny moments and references, mainly aimed at mature audiences, but this Looney Tunes adventure is more a mysterious sci-fi movie than a comedy.

Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both the voice of Eric Bauza) get their origin story. They are raised by Farmer Jim (Fred Tatasciore). When he leaves one day — he just sort of ascends into heaven — Daffy and Porky are left on their own. The two cannot maintain a job. They finally find one at a bubblegum factory. Enter The Invader (MacNicol), a ruthless conqueror who arrives from outer space with plans for the factory as means to enslave people. Daffy, Porky and Petunia (Milo), a scientist and Porky’s love interest, must work together to save Earth.

Daffy and Porky to the rescue. These two characters mostly berate each other while stumbling into fortunate circumstances. Surely, Earth is doomed. They inspire one to say with Porky’s stuttering catchphrase, “Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!” At least, they inspire some humorous moments before the end.

Alien-controlled zombies, bubblegum, boba tea, TikTok and an asteroid hurtling toward Earth are all present. They all become a pivotable part of a plot that is too much. This movie has six writers, and one notices. They all appear to operate as if each was writing for a different script where they decided to merge classic cartoonism with overhyped modern themes.

Grade: C+ (Amusing yet definitely looney.)

“The Last Supper”

(Religion/Period Drama: 1 hour, 54 minutes)

Starring: James Oliver Wheatley, Jamie Ward, Robert Knepper and James Faulkner

Director: Mauro Borrelli

Rated: PG-13 (Violent content, bloody images and suicide.)

Movie Review:

“The Last Supper” is the latest movie to retell the last few days of Jesus’ life from Apostle Peter’s perspective. This photoplay attempts to be more dramatic than usual but does not always adhere to Biblical scripture. It also needed more time for production development.

As Jesus of Nazareth (Ward) prepares for Passover, his disciples, mainly Peter (Wheatley), are concerned that they are drawing too much attention from both the local Roman government under Pontius Pilate’s administration and the priests of the Jerusalem Temple, under the leadership High Priest Joseph Caiaphas (Faulkner). Peter worries about Jesus’s protection while Judas Iscariot (Robert Knepper) plots in the shadows like a slithering politician.

The last few days of Jesus’s life always intrigue, especially for those of faith. Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) is the movie that provided a solid, lasting impact. Others all appeared to maintain the story each Easter.

The inefficient quality of production standards beyond that of a low-budget production hurts “The Last Supper.” For example, the hairstylist for Jesus’s hair could not improve on his wig. Meanwhile, the ornate garments of the rabbis seem to be worth thousands of dollars each.

Grade: C (It leaves one hungry.)