The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

This is an article ‘The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent’ by Marc Primo

Release date: 22 April 2022 (United States)

Director: Tom Gormican

Language: English

Production companies: Saturn Films, Burr! Productions

Producer: Nicolas Cage, Mike Nilon, Kristin Burr, Kevin Turen

SPOILER ALERT – Between his excellent dramatic chops and over-the-top acting, every film enthusiast has come to a point when they have told themselves, "Nicolas Cage is (expletive) amazing." From the depth of his artistic prowess in Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation to his cliche characters in Con Air and the National Treasure series, the man is undoubtedly a legend in his own right. But when Cage plays himself on screen, especially in this one-of-a-kind jewel from director Tom Gormican (That Awkward Moment), certain expletives might be appropriate while giving the actor the praise he deserves. And aside from Cage, Mandalorian star and Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal becomes a comic revelation in this unique laugh-out-loud caper.

Only a few critics may have doubted Cage's career would be over in the millennium's second decade. However, in Gormican's The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, the prolific actor's readiness to say game about presenting a career that's going a downward path also needs applause.

Reality is funnier with a bit of fiction

Cage plays Cage in the film. Early on, audiences get some cinema treats with more of Cage as a few hallucinatory appearances of his younger persona Nicky – perhaps, based on his 1990 Wogan interview, which represented the actor's rather insane side, gives him over-the-top advice during moments of his career disruptions. Many will remember his not-so-cool appearance during the talk show to promote his film Wild At Heart, and that particular character somehow fitted well with the story's narrative.

The story starts with Cage as a struggling actor at the crossroads of landing a dream role or retiring from the industry. His workaholism significantly affects his relationship with his ex-wife Olivia (Sharon Horgan) and daughter Addy (Lily Sheen). Incoming film offers have not been too good from his agent Richard Fink (Neil Patrick Harris).

However, one offer presented Cage with a $1 million price tag for an appearance at Majorca playboy Javi Gutierrez's (Pascal) birthday party. Though reluctant, as the offer somehow made him feel like a birthday clown, Cage accepts the gig, after which he has decided to retire from the film industry and come into acceptance of his 'has-been' status.

Left with no choice, the actor flies to Mallorca but suddenly finds himself the subject of the CIA's stealth operation to bust down a big Spanish Mafia ring. And not just any criminal group. These guys are involved in big-time kidnapping and electoral manipulations, among others.

Like a meme that has come to life, Cage perfectly delivers a humorous take on his current legendary status by poking fun at how fans may perceive his method acting and over-the-top persona in real life. Cage's compliance at being a sport in the film's funny jabs is enough to win over the most cynical critic. Add in Pascal's charismatic and well-timed punchlines, and you have an unexpected tale of bromance that makes it all hilarious.

In the film, Pascal plays a die-hard Nicolas Cage fan who writes a screenplay for him using his clout and power without ever applying any pressure on the actor. That pressure and complication comes from CIA agents Vivian Etten (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin Etten (Ike Barinholtz), who turn Cage into their internal spy to penetrate Javi's gang.

Little does everybody know is that Javi himself is a victim of his cousin Carlos's (Jacob Scipio) illegal activities and is merely relegated to the role of a front for his deceased father's gangster family. The truth is Javi is a hopeless romantic who is secretly in love with his girl Friday Gabriela (Alessandra Mastronardi). He is devoted to nothing more than his obsession with screenwriting and everything about Nicolas Cage.

Cage is always ready to make things work somehow

Despite the rather complicated plot, the storyline works at various levels of comedy, action, and a bit of family drama, all thanks to Cage's versatility. Viewers will also appreciate how odd a couple Cage and Pascal are, but the actors' chemistry is undeniable here, and it's a pleasure to join them in every adventure they take on.

From the cheesy bromance dialogues to Javi's ridiculous fanaticism, Gormican was able to up the ante from his previous attempts and come up with something worth watching from start to finish. The Cage film references are spot on, and the co-starring roles of Haddish, Harris, Horgan, and Sheen all work like magic.

Sequences are stitched together in a way that no scene becomes boring, and most important of all, the jokes do work. When he is drugged out of his senses in the film, Pascal's facial expressions put a star in his comedy trails. The ever-reliable Cage ironically presents a character we are all familiar with, but he has not played on the silver screen before. There's also enough for fans to cling to when it comes to its storytelling aspect aside from all the bromance. Cage's fictional family dynamics, realizing Javi's screenwriting dreams, and Cage proving to himself that 'he never went anywhere in the first place,' to name a few.

Gormican and co-writer Kevin Etten succeed in offering a new brand of comedy that integrates both public perception of Cage's reality and fiction. Audiences will get to follow Cage's career evolution with the many mentions of the actor's blockbuster films and how they resonate with Javi while injecting a younger generation's perspective about Cage himself through his daughter's eyes, Addy. Of course, there are also the Hollywood clichés every viewer can make fun of.

From how Cage continues to reinvent himself in last year's winner Pig and his upcoming role as Joe Exotic via a television mini-series, The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent further elevates his iconic Hollywood status excellently. It shows the actor’s range and a never-before-seen comedy chops that just might land him more laugh-out-loud roles in the near future.

Watching the film makes it easier for us to admit that Cage became a hero at one point in our lives, whether he stars in fluff films or blockbusters, voice-acting, or as a proverbial birthday clown, we all love to see him work.