Nicolas Cage plays a parody and homage to himself in Tom Gormican’s novel. The Unbearable Weight of Huge Talent, the latest entry in the current meta movie trend. The action comedy premiered at this week’s SXSW Film Festival, where it immediately received unanimously positive reviews.
Despite some admitted problems with the script and the possibility of its limited appeal, the film is said to be a hilarious attempt in the tradition of such self-referential Hollywood satires as “Adaptation” and “The Last Action Hero”, with a captivating performance by Pedro Pascal and more heart than you expect.
Here’s what critics have to say about The Unbearable Weight of Great Talent:
Is this movie for Nicolas Cage fans?
If you love Nicolas Cage, this movie is Bellagio’s smorgasbord of Nicolas Cage movies. – Neil Pollak, Book & Film Globe
[It’s] a true love letter to all facets of Cage’s past and a tantalizing roadmap to his future. – Robert Daniels, Playlist
The fast-paced meta-comedy looks like a fan letter to Cage from someone who has not only seen a lot of movies but also has good taste. — Jude Dry, IndieWire
The filmmakers do not judge which of his films has the most value, realizing that a favorite film is intimate and personal. – Maria E. Gates, RogerEbert.com
This is a reasonable and pleasant raison d’etre – Massive Talent is fanfiction from real people. — Adi Robertson, The Verge
What if you’re not Cage’s Completist?
Not just for superfans, it’s best for those who appreciate the hard-to-unravel knot of reality, falsehood, vanity, artistry, self-commentation, and pure comedy. — John DeFore, Hollywood reporter
[It’s] the most hilarious movie you’ve had in years… even the most ambivalent Cage has to admit. — Jude Dry, IndieWire
Gormican suggests that you’ve seen Cage’s biggest successes and even his obscure cult classics. And if not, then soon you will adore them as much as he does. – Robert Daniels, Playlist
The actual finished product seems too baseball; you have to be a real fan of Cage to be aware of all the jokes. – Martin Tsai, TheWrap
The film glosses over what makes him an actor, seemingly expecting you to show up with a strong understanding of Cage’s prolific career and his strange mix of high-intellect and low-intellect roles. — Adi Robertson, The Verge
(Photo by Catalin Vermes/©Lionsgate)
Is there more to this than just a celebration of Nic Cage’s love?
Like The Matrix: Resurrections, Gormican creates sluggish action sequences and frustrating car chases as commentaries on the current visually inert blockbuster. – Robert Daniels, Playlist
It also somewhat resembles The Last Action Movie in its ability to make meta-comments on films that are better, or at least more popular. – Neil Pollak, Book & Film Globe
Its true theme is the magic of cinema. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety Show
And how is Cage like… Cage?
One of his best performances. — Drew Tinnin, Dread Central
[He] presents one of the most challenging yet crowd-pleasing performances of his career. – Maria E. Gates, RogerEbert.com
Cage, breaking away from what some consider to be the best performance of his Pig career, takes the role and kicks it out of the park again. — Ryan McQuaid, AwardsWatch
Return to outdated notions … Cage wins, bringing joy to the public. – Robert Daniels, Playlist
This is purely a demonstration of Cage, who surprises by exposing as much vulnerability as willingness to join in on the exuberant humor. – Megan Navarro, Bloody Disgust
Cage’s manic timing really works to make sure Gormican and co-writer Kevin Etten’s best lines work. — Pete Hammond, Deadline
What about Pedro Pascal?
What could easily become a fanservice cipher in lesser hands is supported by Pascal’s layered, emotional performance. – Maria E. Gates, RogerEbert.com
Pascal puts on the best performance of his career… His emotions are so close to the surface that they can ignite if ignited. – Robert Daniels, Playlist
Pascal is awesome. — Alex Bojalad, Den of Geek
It’s a little amazing to watch [Cage’s] co-star, ever-rising Pedro Pascal, grab the movie and go with it. — Jacob Hall, Slashfilm
Pascal is fine, although this on-screen duo was never meant to be an equal partnership. – Martin Tsai, TheWrap
(Photo by Catalin Vermes/©Lionsgate)
Do they make the perfect couple?
Cage and Pascal really look brilliant together. — Jude Dry, IndieWire
Cage and Pascal’s chemistry is impeccable: the two actors are very visibly aroused to be in each other’s presence. — Alex Bojalad, Den of Geek
“The Unbearable Weight of Huge Talent” wouldn’t have worked at all without the unwavering chemistry that Cage and Pascal shared. – Robert Daniels, Playlist
Their chemistry… makes them one of the cutest cinematic bromances in recent memory. – Megan Navarro, Bloody Disgust
Javi, played by Pedro Pascal, works as a perfect counterpoint to Cage’s shamanic modernist acting method… It’s nice to watch them revolve around each other. — Drew Tinnin, Dread Central
[Cage’s] the chemistry with Pascal when they start working on the script together makes the film based on character rather than plot, real emotion rather than fiction. – Maria E. Gates, RogerEbert.com
The real joy comes when Cage and Pascal share the screen. — Jacob Hall, Slashfilm
What about the rest of the cast?
It’s a pity that the film doesn’t make good use of its other formidable talents, namely Haddish and Baringolz. — John Fink, Movie Scene
At some point, we have to stop saying “this movie is wasting Tiffany Haddish” and think maybe that’s all Tiffany Haddish has to offer. – Neil Pollak, Book & Film Globe
Is the movie funny?
“The Unbearable Weight of Huge Talent” is really funny… Creating her own big comedy sets, she shines. — Alex Bojalad, Den of Geek
[It’s] one of the funniest movies of the year. — Jude Dry, IndieWire
From funny to downright hilarious… Lots of laughs. — Ed Travis, Cinapse
There are a few LOL moments to keep it all buzzing. — Pete Hammond, Deadline
(Photo by Catalin Vermes/©Lionsgate)
How is he as a fighter?
The first action script of the film is undoubtedly the best… The later action scenes are not as exciting or fun. – Martin Tsai, TheWrap
The action part of the film lags far behind the comedy. A couple of mostly inert car chases are all a feature on a modest budget can muster, and they mostly just serve to slow the jokes down. — Alex Bojalad, Den of Geek
The artistic shenanigans are perhaps the least interesting part of the movie… The sets are cute, but what holds them together is the action. – J. Hurtado, ScreenAnarchy
Nicolas Cage is forced to live out the script we expect from a Nicolas Cage movie, with car chases, armed confrontations and macho monologues. — John DeFore, Hollywood reporter
So, let’s enjoy the plot if we like the “typical” action films of Nicolas Cage?
At some point, it deftly turns from commentary on Nic Cage’s wacky action movie to what actually becomes one with a pleasant enough return. – Neil Pollak, Book & Film Globe
After all, being a Nicolas Cage movie… turns out to be both cheesy and special at the same time. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety Show
[The conclusion] it’s too much like the lousy B-movies Cage has been making in recent years to match the boisterous joys of the first hour and change. — Jacob Hall, Slashfilm
(Photo by Catalin Vermes/©Lionsgate)
Script stuck on landing?
The third act loses some of that magic, as it’s forced to go all the way down to heavy gunfire. – Megan Navarro, Bloody Disgust
Massive Talent eventually tires out, bogged down in its own unbearable weight. – Martin Tsai, TheWrap
The concept of a film within a film makes the film heavier. — Drew Tinnin, Dread Central
From time to time, of course, he wears out his move due to too much frantic energy. — Pete Hammond, Deadline
As it nears its end, the film loses some of its joker flavor… Clever, but not enough to make the upcoming action film less versatile. — John DeFore, Hollywood reporter
It’s a shame that [the] the plot gets in the way. — John Fink, Movie Scene
Unfortunately, the overall experience remains rather scattered. — Adi Robertson, The Verge
The success of a film really depends on the script, and this script really delivers exactly what is needed, when it is needed. – J. Hurtado, ScreenAnarchy
The Unbearable Weight of Enormous Talent premiered on March 12, 2022 at South by Southwest with a theatrical release on April 22, 2022.
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