The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

All in all, a pretty traditional action buddy comedy; I’m actually a bit surprised at how ordinary it is. Based on the title, the familiarity with Nicolas Cage's choice of roles over the last decade, and the fact that it was supposed to be an action film starring Nicolas Cage, one would have expected a different kind of romp. The movie does have a meta level, but what movie doesn’t these days? Seven out of ten. It was fun, but I probably won’t remember it. (06/09/2022)

Tolerable lightness of wasted potential... It’s a meta that reaches for higher levels of genre clichés but only glances at the fun and cleverness. Rather than a reflection of a faded Hollywood diva, it feels more like a subtle glimpse of her through a fan’s lens. Nicolas Cage, for years facing creative death, tries to prove that the wildness in his heart hasn’t disappeared. I don’t deny him that, but it seems to me that his average decision time on whether to take a role is around 60 seconds. (10/09/2023)

I'd guess that many of us imagined the film to be a lot crazier from the synopsis than it ended up being. The highlights are, of course, the meta scenes where either Nicolas' filmography and memorabilia from his works are discussed, or where the current Cage bickers with his younger self, which is one truly brilliant and superbly executed idea in an otherwise not entirely imaginative film. In the end, it's a very fine entertaining diversion that has virtually nothing to offend, but after the strong praise that initially accompanied this film, my expectations were a bit higher. (06/27/2022)

Or when your better half wants to watch a film because of a Facebook menu. Excellent meta silliness, finally a role tailor-made for Nicolas Cage and incredible fun on top of that. The genre progression from human drama to action comedy is quite unexpected, but it works – the film has a bit of everything. Pedro Pascal is excellent and, as Cage's number one fan, totally believable even in the most absurd situations. The line with the daughter hits the right nerve. Will the little one like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as much as I do? (04/02/2023)

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a pleasant diversion with several fine moments and references to other films, but it also has barren moments and numerous clichés – including the most hackneyed ones from Hollywood family movies. Nic Cage enjoys himself (as he should!) and Pedro Pascal’s acting is even more interesting here. (05/06/2022)