Novocaine Reviews

• novocaine will keep you guessing

  
  By A2Q9ZFC2TSK90C on 2001-09-11
  Just saw Novocaine at the Boston Film Festival. Steve Martin was there in person to accept the 2001 performance award for his role in the film. What a clever black comedy suspense thriller. Steve Martin stars as a dentist who falls in with Helena Bonham Carter, a young girl who uses the dentist to get her prescriptions for painkillers. Laura Dern is Steve's sexy co-worker/fiancee who doesn't realise that her man is off having sex with a druggie. Along the way, Steve Martin's character becomes embroiled in lies, deceit, and murder. A clever and funny film. Trying to figure out who-dun-it and why was never so much fun. **Kevin Bacon is hilarious in his cameo as Lance Phelps. His best performance in years.
  
  

• Painful Dentistry

  
  By AZPE3CITCKRKO on 2001-11-17
  The fact is, this movie is a mess. Sure it has it's moments and it has its Martinesque touches, especially the ending, but it basically doesn't know what it wants to be.

  It has action and violence which sometimes we are supposed to think is funny: every time a dead body shows up, Martin's character slips on the blood and does a pratfall. At other times, we are waiting for the action to be funny but after it is set up, it never quite comes off. Then there are times when the action seems merely routine.

  The story has twists, some are dramatic, some are funny but the audience is left detached and somewhat confused. The impression one gets is the script wasn't very good to start with and that some good bits were thrown in during filming but there wasn't enough in the end to make a good movie.

  Martin shows us a one-dimensional character who manages to make a bad decision at every opportunity. His character, Dr. Sangster, a dentist, doesn't play as very amusing or even interesting; he hardly ever changes his expression.

  Helena Bonham Carter looks the part of a drugged-out waif and plays that role convincingly but we are at a loss to see her sex-appeal, especially to Martin's straight-arrow dentist.

  Laura Dern also does a great job as the neurotic dental assistant and fiancée of Dr. Sangster. She develops a complicated character very well.

  Both women are in sex scenes with Dr. Sangster which lend little to the story and look like every other sex scene in the movies these days. Martin will never be convincing in a sex scene.

  There are some great supporting performances from Lucina Paquet as a persevering office manager, James Chisem as the local cop being trailed around by an actor studying up on being a detective, and ? as an obsequious DEA agent.

  Scott Caan is a convincing young tough. Elias Koteas plays a good low-life but it is hard for us to believe that this could really be the dentist's brother. Kevin Spacey plays the actor/detective in an uncredited role (a good move on his part).
  
  

• Speaking from a dental perspective...

  
  By A19ATTITKYEZMY on 2001-12-15
  I am a dental hygienist, although not nearly as obsessive-compulsive and crazy as Laura Dern's Jean Noble. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film!

  A local oral surgeon sponsored a private screening for local dentists and their staff members. In other words, the theater was packed with dental professionals. We had a ball! It played very well to our audience, as the movie was technically very good (dentally speaking). Other dental-type movies have left a lot to be desired in that category!

  The movie was indeed a comedy, allbeit a dark comedy. It's the kind of humor where you laugh, but with your hand over your mouth to cover up the fact that your humor is a bit deranged. Although, perhaps I am speaking for myself.

  Laura Dern, Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, and Kevin Bacon all turn in super performances. It was a fun ride, and the who-done-it guessing game was much fun!

  I recommend this movie, especially to the dental community or anyone who is not squeamish!
  
  

• Steve does Hitchcock

  
  By ALSS4T9ELZ777 on 2001-11-30
  Steve Martin's new film is a nice redirection from his overtly comic work (though even when Steve is serious, he's funny). It harkens towards his role in the Spanish Prisoner only he is more the focus in this movie. The entire cast does a great job and the end result is a very entertaining Hitchcockian thriller/black comedy. If you're looking for Parenthood then look somewhere else, if you're looking for a unique and well-executed thriller then this is it.
  
  

• A big disappointment

  
  By A1HOLE9R6WPT85 on 2005-06-26
  This movie stars Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, and Laura Dern, three terrific actors. And in fact, this movie was very well acted.
  
  But the story was just intolerable. Martin plays a gullible dentist drawn into a plot to steal his office narcotics & hijack his business. But Martin's character, Dr. Frank Sangster, makes one incredibly stupid decision after another, to the point of unbelievable absurdity.
  
  For the most part, the story was dull. The plot was dumb, and the villains motive is never explained: why would someone develope such an extremely elaborate plot to steal a dental practice? And the final "twist" that other reviewers refer to was even more absurd. It was painful to watch this movie.
  
  But the biggest mystery remains: how these wonderful actors got suckered into this movie?
  
  
• ODDBALL SUSPENSE COMEDY, WORTH A WATCH
  By A1L8HRCM60W0W7 on 2003-10-19
  Novocaine is labeled as a dark comedy in the reviews here, a conclusion I don't necessarily see from the film. It is nuanced entertainment, you don't expect anything else from a Steve Martin fare, and it does have its quirky elements. But I'd perhaps call it a murder suspense thriller with wit. Just go with the suspension of disbelief, and enjoy the plot twists as the craziness of the "decay" takes its hold. Recommended!
  
  
• Great. Super. Novocaine rocks.
  By AL3FI9Z28QZ53 on 2001-08-01
  . This is a great movie. you have to see it. i seen it earlier. it is a comedy that will make you laugh. when a sexy patient Helena Bolham-Carter (Susan Ivy)walks in, she suduces steve martin (Frank Sangter) into prescribing her drugs (with a large habit for painkillers), now he is a suspect of a murder. I will not tell you the ending. you will have to find that out for yourself. JJ
  
  
• You'll need a shot of Novocaine to sit through this Movie!
  By A1TJPMB7N776WS on 2001-11-26
  David Atkins "Novocaine" is as much a disaster as Michael Cimino's "Heaven's Gate." Fortunately "Novocaine" probably only cost as much as the wigs in "Heaven's Gate." Where to start? First of all the story/plot itself is only mildly interesting: a dentist, Frank Sangster (Steve Martin)is visited by a new patient, Susan Ivey (Helena Bonham Carter)who's obviously more interested in a Demerol perscription than in any dental work...and she'll do/does anything to get it. This encounter opens the gates to a series of scenes involving: murder, suicide, drugs, physical abuse, robbery and incest to name a few. The problem is that the tone of this film is so erratic and diffuse that it cannot support this barrage of situations. It's like trying to build a house on a poor foundation...it's bound to topple. And of course the poor foundation here is the screenplay written by the director, David Atkins. Plot complications come out of nowhere and and this means that continuity is lost after only 30 minutes into this film.
  To compound the situation, there is no sexual chemistry at all between Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter, who seems to have left her buck teeth in place from "Planet of the Apes" and brought along her hair-don't and wardrobe from the "Fight Club." Bonham Carter has been absolutely luminous in such movies as "Remains of the Day" and especially "Wings of the Dove." Ditto for Steve Martin especially in "LA Story." But even their combined charisma cannot save this sinking ship.
  On the positive side, Laura Dern does a terrific job as Jean Noble, a dental hygenist and all around loony. And Kevin Bacon is a hoot as an actor working with the police in preparation for a movie role.
  But in the end, "Novocaine" just doesn't jell, even though the music by Danny Elfman ("Sleepy Hollow") tries it's best to pump some life into this failed enterprise a la what Bernard Herrman did for Hitchcock's films. Let the buyer beware.
  
  
• Deliciously Dark Comedy
  By A367Q9VRWQZG7W on 2002-02-08
  Taking a cheap shot at your dentist is a cherished and venerable tradition of gallows humor. There is no profession (except maybe lawyering) that takes it on the chin like denistry. Maybe that's why dentists have the highest suicide rate of any profession. David Atkin's feature debut, "Novocaine" is a dark comedy of an annoyingly smug dental practitioner who falls prey to a deliciously amoral femme fatale.

  Frank Sangster, played by Steve Martin, is a suburban dentist who has it all: a thriving practice, an attractive blonde dental hygenist/fiance (Laura Dern) and even a television monitor showing a relaxing travelouge of rustic Italy for patients to watch, as he performs root canals on them. Susan Ivey (Helena Bonham Carter) is the girl all of our mothers warned us about. From the moment she slithers into his office seeking percodan for recreational purposes, we know that this woman will cut a path of murder and mayhem across Sangster's thin veneer of respectability. Helena Bonaham Carter takes a break from costume epics and sizzles as the decandent, drug addled Susan. Clearly Bonaham Carter delights in her over-the-top characterization of Susan and is sublimely funny as she cunningly manipulates Steve Martin to do her will. Kevin Bacon is a good actor who has made a lot of bad career decisions. In "Novocaine" he shines as a self-absorbed method actor studying for a police detective role and unwittingly stays one step ahead of actual detectives with his by-the-numbers, Hollywood scripted analysis of the crime.

  If you liked the farce "Election" with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon you will probably love this movie. It's too bad "Novocaine" had such a short run at the art houses but I'm hoping it will find a new life when it is released in the DVD and VHS formats.
  
  

• Martin's Dentist Noir!? Not Bad, But Helena Steals it Anyway
  By ABO2ZI2Y5DQ9T on 2002-10-01
  Frank is a successful dentist, with a beautiful fiance Jean. But when Frank is played by Steve Martin, Frank is going to have some trouble, just as he did in "Little Shop of Horrors." But from the beginning you know that "Novocaine" is not a usual film, if you are looking at the craziest opening credits, where X-rayed skulls are talking to each other, and eating and drinking.

  And this unlucky Frank meets a sexy patient Helena Bonahm Carter -- who asks him, "will you do it in chair?" -- and later, you would realize she is not an usual patient when she shows up at the dentist's office very late at night. Frank is inevitably drawn to her, cheating his fiance Laura Dean, but who can blame him? And quite naturally, and miserably, he has to pay the price with the uninvited drug-related investigation, and then perhaps, something more.

  Director David Atkins once wrote the script of Johnny Depp's "Arizona Dream," of which off-beat, original atmosphere I still don't know what to do with. And in "Novocaine" too, his first-time director attempt, the style is the same. Part thriller, part comedy, and part romance, the film goes with a steady speed, but the point looks often unsure even though the twists and turns of the story is intriguing. In short, the film doesn't bite, or don't know where to bite.

  But one thing is there which I can recommend for sure, and that's Helena Bonahm Carter. She succeeds in surprising us with the sexiest performance she ever did, and as a "woman of fate" she cuts an extraordinarily convincing figure, spilling over the charm she had never shown in "Planet of the Apes." If you're her fan, this film is not to be missed.

  So, film company Artizan made another interesting film, or noir comedy so to speak, of Steve Martin, whose career we find very hard to evaluate since the 1990s. But whether or not you like "Bowfinger," I think he can surprise us with unexpectedly good acting (such as that of "Spanish Prisoner" for instance), and in fact, Steve Martin in "Novocaine" is good as before. But truely amusing is Ms. Carter's coquetish character, who just can't help herself, and "Hard Way"-like cameo appearance of Kevin Becon who unwittingly torments guilt-ridden Martin.
  
  

• Good performances, barely watchable movie
  By A1EI65WJC85U68 on 2002-11-20
  An unamusing noirish black comedy. Steve Martin plays a dentist who ends up embroiled in sex, drugs and bloody murder when he makes the mistake of prescribing a lethal dose of stolen narcotics to one of his patients; he quickly becomes a murder suspect. Martin's fans may have difficulty accepting NOVOCAINE. It is a far cry from the likes of THE JERK and PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. What is difficult for ANY viewer to accept is the possibility of Martin and Elias Koteas being brothers! On the plus side, there is good support from Laura Dern and Helena Bonham-Carter as the victim's sister, but good acting rarely makes a slovenly script worth your time. Viewers will wish they were actually under the influence of novocaine to be able to sit through this movie. The most memorable scene has Martin perfoming oral surgery on himself and a corpse. Eeew!! Then suddenly the tone of the movie becomes chirpy and upbeat. It's as though a clip from FATHER OF THE BRIDE was inserted because producers were unable to finish the picture for some reason!! Kevin Bacon is good in a glorified cameo as a dimwitted plainclothes detective.
  
  
• Steve Martin Naked
  By ABX7SEE84DMLU on 2005-02-16
  That's what it's all about.
  
  For those of you who were disappointed in "Cheaper By The Dozen" for its lack of nudity, this one's for you. In the special features, Steve talks about what drew him into this neat little project. He pointedly does not mention that it was a chance for him to appear naked (seemingly) with Helena, which is something not to pass up.
  
  He's perfect as a dentist with a perfect life, which is at first slightly tilted and then upset completely. He manages the required transitions of character with brilliant understatement.
  
  It's his finest movie since Parenthood, and deserves your attention. You probably won't want to watch it more than twice, though. It's a plot twist special, and besides, how many times can you watch graphic tooth extractions?
  
  
• This movie deserves no starts at all.
  By on 2001-11-26
  This movie is perhaps the worst movie I have ever seen. It literally made me sick. As in, vomitting in the lobby. I, of course, did not make it through the whole movie, but I cannot even imagine how it might redeem itself. It was violent and gruesome, had a sickening, depraved story line and was not even a tiny bit funny. I fail to see why it would be billed as a comedy. I would guess that half the audience in the theater I saw it in walked out halfway into the movie. It was that bad. I am mad that I wasted my time and money.
  
  
• Not one of Steve Martins best.
  By on 2001-12-01
  An interesting little film with a very few laughs. However, the overall feeling of this film was more of an 'uncomfortable' rather than a 'Steve Martin funny'. I was disappointed and would not recommend it.
  
  
• Will the REAL Helena Bonham Carter Please Stand Up...
  By A1J2931UBBJPXM on 2002-05-08
  Rarely does the title of a film say as much about it as this one does; because by the time you get to the end, there's a good chance you're going to feel quite numb, as if you've been given a body-size shot of novocaine. And it's not because there's so much wrong with this film-- it's just that there's not too much right about it; it's seemingly beyond the help of even it's high profile cast, and that's even if they were, indeed, trying to help in the first place. Unfortunately, the evidence-- with regards to one of the stars of the project, at any rate-- inexplicably points to the contrary, and it leaves "Novocaine," written and directed by David Atkins, somewhere out on a limb; a precarious place to be, considering that the tree itself was not strong enough to take root in the first place. Simply put, this one's on such shaky ground that you'll be convinced that there has to be a fault line running along beneath it somewhere, and while you're trying to figure out where, you just might miss the point of the whole thing, which is something along the lines of "If You Play With Fire You'll Get Burned." Or better yet, pick your own platitude and fill in the blank. Either way, there's not going to be any getting around the numb thing. Just accept it, and try to move on.

  Frank Sangster (Steve Martin) is a dentist with a successful practice, a beautiful finance, Jean (Laura Dern), and a future that promises more of the same. Until one day out of the blue, Susan (Helena Bonham Carter), a new patient, shows up at his office with a toothache. And before it's over, he gives her a root canal, and she gives him the "works," which includes wheedling a prescription of Demerol out of him. Can it be she has a drug problem? Can Frank smell scam? Apparently not, because the next day the entire drug supply in his office is missing, and so is Susan. She does leave one of her more personal items behind in the office, however, and when Jean gets wind of it, Frank-- to paraphrase a famous line-- has some `splaining to do. And in veritably a nanosecond, the life of one Frank Sangster is turned upside down, and that old gravity, reality, begins it's pull on him; and there's only one way it can possibly take him: Suffice to say, it isn't up.

  Bringing a feature film to the screen is no easy task, and it must be especially challenging to make the attempt while wearing two hats (writer and director). And from all appearances, this is where Atkins gets into trouble, as the problems with this film (and there are many) begin with the screenplay. Writer Atkins simply doesn't give director Atkins much to work with, and it just may be that he was too close to his own material, which prevented him from seeing it objectively. And that objective viewpoint is something this film needed. Badly. With the exception of a pivotal element of the climax, there is nothing original about the story at all, and that single element is too ludicrous to be effective, or believable. And therein lies the basic problem with the film: Even if you manage to suspend disbelief while watching it, you would still need an imagination with a Gumby-like flexibility before any of it would seem convincing or the least bit probable. Given a best case scenario, the story just isn't plausible at all. The dialogue is poorly scripted (For instance, as it unfolds, no less than three characters ask Frank, "Can I ask you a personal question?" which is about two times too many to be credible), the execution of the material lacks the fine-tuning it needs and, inexplicably, the actors fail to bring any definition at all to their characters (they needed help, "direction," and obviously Atkins-- for whatever reason-- was unable to supply it). Filmmaking is inherently a collaborative enterprise, and when a project lacks that cohesive unity, it invariably has a negative impact on the final product. And it certainly does here.

  Steve Martin turns in what is arguably the most convincing performance of the film, but it is far from his best work. His portrayal of Frank lacks the nuance he usually brings to the characters he creates, and the result is a fairly nondescript protagonist. And, though Frank comes across as "real" overall, Martin fails to really get into his skin or to explore the motivations that drive Frank on to doing what he does; and because of all that precedes it, as well as the way in which it is presented, what would have been merely a ridiculous ending becomes absolutely ludicrous. Martin has a good go at it, but in the end he barely manages to keep his Frank afloat, and under closer scrutiny, the credibility slowly begins to unravel.

  Helena Bonham Carter, meanwhile, gives a performance that doesn't hold up to a casual glance, let alone close scrutiny, and it's one of the biggest surprises of the film. The usually reliable Carter-- who is a terrific, versatile actor-- winds up with possibly the most unrealistic character she's ever created. For this film to work, the audience must believe that Susan is an addict; But there is nothing in Carter's portrayal to confirm, or even indicate, that this is the case. And here, more than anywhere else, is where the credibility of the entire film dissolves, negating any of the more positive aspects in the balance. It's a one-dimensional, one note character, and it takes it's toll on the whole picture.

  Laura Dern has also done better work-- though, as Jean, she looks good, and certainly brings a lot of energy to the film. A decent effort, but it's not enough to save "Novocaine," and-- like the audience-- she gets little return on the investment of her time here.
  
  

• Had your teeth cleaned lately?
  By A2DSXA1E02C86D on 2002-06-20
  NOVOCAINE provides a new perspective on the annual dental check-up. Steve Martin plays Dr. Frank Sangster, a successful dentist content with his practice and the love of his oral hygienist, Jean (Laura Dern). Well, maybe he's just a little bored. One day, Frank gains a new patient, the bewitching Susan (Helena Bonham Carter). During an after hours appointment, her smoldering question, "Have you done it in The Chair", causes Doc to use a drill of another sort. Unfortunately, as many men can ruefully corroborate, the failure to keep it zipped under stress has consequences. In Frank's case, they include suspicion of drug dealing and arrest for murder. And what were his teeth marks doing all over the corpse?

  NOVOCAINE is somewhat reminiscent of the 1985 film noir AFTER HOURS. In both, the hero finds his life going down the toilet due to bizarre circumstances beyond his control. However, in the former, the plot is darker and the humor has a harder edge. Indeed, NOVOCAINE is often more drama than comedy. Having made his reputation as a comedian, Steve Martin is remarkably deadpan serious in his role as the foil for the, um, more interesting characters that have forced their way into Sangster's life. Scott Caan, regrettably on screen all too briefly, is chillingly menacing as Susan's psycho brother, Duane. Kevin Bacon is excellent as the actor spending time with the police department to absorb local color for an upcoming gig. Carter has the meatiest role as the strung-out and abused, but basically good-hearted, Susan. And Laura Dern, always a Babe worth an ogle, is effective as Frank's understanding girlfriend. Maybe too understanding, come to think of it.

  Sangster's solution to his growing list of problems is this quirky film's weirdest touch. It's not something you'd want to try at home when flossing just isn't enough.
  
  

• Tries hard but full of holes
  By A2KB14WCZ1DVE3 on 2002-07-08
  There is a shot way too early in the movie that reveals who the chief villian in this movie is. My nine-year old daughter caught it, and asked me afterwards why they gave this away so early in the movie. Thus is my major problem with a movie I was rooting (no pun intended, see below) for from the beginning, but ended as a disappointment.

  This was a noble attempt to create an intelligent thriller about a dentist (thus the "root" pun) whose life is turned upside down because of a pretty face. This has happened many times before, both in the movies, and in real life, and, as a male, I will grudgingly admit it does have credibility.

  The man in this movie is a dentist played by Steve Martin, who seems to have it all together. He has a successful practice, and Laura Dern is his fiance. Of course when a movie hits you over the head with information like this, you know things are going to change fast.

  This change occurs when the pretty face (Helena Bonham Carter) appears in his office, and nothing is ever again the same. She first cons Martin and a pharmacist out of some narcotics, then appears again and seduces him in his own dentist chair. The fact that she does this so easily shows that maybe he wasn't as happy as he first declares in the movie. Or maybe it has something to do with the movie's funniest line. When Martin asks her if she does this all the time with doctors and dentists, she replies just dentists because they're dumber, no offense.

  So far, so good, and the situation gets even stickier when Martin discovers the next day that his whole stash of narcotics is missing, and one vial was found at the scene of a tragic accident. This leads to an encounter with the brother of Carter's played violently by Scott Caan, a definite chip off his old man's block. While the movie has several "bad guys" of varying degrees, it is here that we get the shot of who the real "whodunnit" person is. That's it. Strike three. Movie over.

  So now we have to sit and wait for Martin to catch up with us, and the movie continues while pretending it didn't reveal this to us. While watching, I'm reminded of the far superior "Something Wild", where Jeff Daniels goes on a far more exciting roller coaster with Melanie Griffith. This movie should have gotten some tips from that one.

  While there are some humorous parts, the timing is sometimes bad. While being interviewed at his home, the plot decides to introduce Kevin Bacon as an actor researching a cop role. I imagine this was supposed to be funny, but it just didn't work at this time. We find out later that the character was introduced here to be a plot device later, but that scene is also clumsy and improbable.

  And that's the problem. The movie wants to give us some laughs as well as the tension. It does the tension fairly well, but the comedy doesn't work enough. Steve Martin doesn't need to revert back to a "Wild and Crazy Guy", but if he's going to go for laughs, he should play less staid characters than he's played lately or learn to become a better straight man while others get the laughs.

  So pick up "Something Wild" to see this subject treated better, and the orginal "Lethal Weapon" to see crime and comedy work well.

  One more note. While Steve Martin isn't THAT old, and Dern and Carter aren't THAT young anymore, and Martin does keep fit, and we're not going into Woody Allen territory here, we still have the "older male actor gets younger women" syndrome yet again. Don't hold your breath waiting for Sally Field to couple up with Freddie Prinze, Jr. in the near future.
  
  

• Safe for those allergic to nitrous oxide.
  By AEBZVNKHJNJHU on 2002-12-20
  WARNING: May induce Novocaine-like cerebral symptoms.

  Known to cause slight post-viewing disappointment or indifference.

  Some have been known to experience a few brief moments of humor, but no actual audible laughing has been recorded.

  Intercut clips of mastication and ingestion used to supplement affect.

  Causes some moments of discomfort due to tooth extraction, but less than knowledge of exposure to whole viewing procedure.

  Accompanying sucking noise heard by many viewers identified as time wasting away in void of average cinema.

  Some types may enjoy the temporary numbness, while most are likely to wish they had been put under so they would've never experienced the procedure.

  Talented actors and comedian used to humor new director. Better luck next time.

  Dosage low enough to avoid permanent damage, so use at your own risk.

  Procedure not recommended.
  
  

• Interesting Movie, but Not Quite as Advertised
  By A1LZVU5SRRM3VX on 2004-01-20
  This film is one of those cross-genre movies that must drive marketing people nuts. Part murder mystery, part erotic suspense thriller, part black comedy, the marketing people took one look at this, saw Steve Martin, and called it comedic. Really, it's more ironic than comedic. The situations in which people find themselves, from Laura Dern's OCD fiancee to Steve Martin's repressed dentist caught up in a spiraling web of deceit are definitely not funny in the traditional sense, and I am sure that is what put many people off about the film.

  Despite the unsavory elements of the story and only average acting from otherwise good actors, the story holds the audience's interest, subtlely foreshadowing the climax, which unfortunately "pays off" all too quickly after the amount of work that goes into setting it up.

  This, plus the aforementioned average acting and dark storyline are the primary reasons that this movie is usually found in the bargain bin. Still, Helena Bonham Carter is definitely worth watching as a drug addict, abused by her incestuous brother. Some of the character's dress and actions are vaguely reminiscent of her portrayal of Marla Singer in Fight Club, and she remains sufficiently tortured throughout the film to add a slightly deeper layer to the film.

  Not for the squeamish (or dentist averse), the film has an ironic but "happy" ending that leaves the viewer a bit unsettled, mainly because it ends a little too cleanly. Not Steve Martin's best work, by far, but certainly an amusing diversion.
  
  

• Don't expect humor in this one!!
  By A2X6GEC6LCDN4S on 2004-07-27
  Don't expect to laugh at this one. It is sad in many ways. It is a well written story of tragedy...and it all starts when Martin's character gives into temptation...a temptation he will regret.
  
  
• As numbing as the title
  By A4PPZNQF1X2IY on 2006-02-10
  Being a modest Steve Martin fan, I fairly liked the beginning of the movie, and the concept was not without possibility. However, everything derailed early on and became one head-scratcher after another. The biggest failure is that the character motivations don't make any sense, and Martin's character, supposedly a sharp dentist, makes asisine judgements one after the other. The writing is poor, and Martin's narrations sound scripted and hackneyed. The plot moves along fast, but in a mechanical and unbelievable way, with several placed concidences and bewildering logic. Spoiler warning: It becomes obvious far too early that his fiancee is in on it, as her reactions to his problems are laughable. The ending coup d'etat is not only sickening, but also moronic, as in the fairy tale ending between two mismatched people. This movie has more holes than swiss cheese, and lacks common sense and feeling as it races blindly ahead. Dern and Carter had little chance for a fine performance as the psychology underlying their characters was ill-defined and basically nonsensical. Steve was handcuffed by the script as well, but even so gave a
  far less nuanced and steady performance as his fine dramatic
  work in the excellent Spanish Prisoner. Unfortunately, this
  movie is seriously disappointing. Oh, by the way, this movie
  is in no sense a comedy either, as some hype has portrayed it.
  
  
• Root canals anyone?...............
  By A2CZ530KDEX6D0 on 2001-12-23
  Steve Martin's kind of humor obviously is not for everyone, but he happens to be an intelligent actor who can make seeing a film like this a joy. The only problem is in which direction are we being sent: Is it a film noir? Is it a comedy, or what? But after you settle down, this is a winning film, you won't be sorry you came. The acting is great. Not only is Mr. Martin good, but the rest of the cast, especially, Laura Dern, who's always a pleasure to watch in anything she does. Ms. Bonham-Carter is equally effective, playing as she does in this film, against type. The direction by David Atkins is good, as are the beginning credits, which are a lot of fun to watch.
  
  
• NUMB AND NUMB-ER
  By A3H9JSM1SUTE4O on 2002-04-26
  Strange and disappointing.

  A great cast, Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter and Laura Dern can't resurrect this embarrassing attempt at black comedy about an engaged dentist (Martin) who has an affair with a druggie (Carter) and then gets framed for murder.

  First time writer director David Atkins comes from a family of dentists but that's just not enough to justify the green-lighting of this amateurish mish mash of a movie. There is one great moment with an unbilled Kevin Bacon playing an actor doing research for a movie role as a cop. His scenes grilling Martin are dead on. The rest of the movie is just plain dead.

  In the so so supplemental material, Steve Martin says, "The only reason I signed on was that I once was in a David Mamet movie and wanted to be in another one with a guy named David." He has a pained expression and it's clear he sadly realizes -- perhaps after the fact -- this is a dud.

  What makes this film barely worth renting is the unexpected documentary, "Bitten," on forensic dentistry.

  At least no one says, "The tooth? You can't handle the tooth."

  I'd give this feature (minus the extras) zero stars but that rating isn't available.
  
  

• Martin has done better
  By A1RKD1I8MW1LG6 on 2002-05-04
  I was not comfortable watching this movie...I could not, for the life of me, figure out what it was trying to be. It sure wasn't funny, unless you think that funny is laughing at something that makes you cringe. And it wasn't serious because there were too many pratfalls. So what was it?

  I thought it was a shame that such a good cast was utilized for a film like this. Not that it was bad, per se, but it just was not good. Can you tell that I am ambivalent about "Novocaine"?

  One of the best elements was the music. That is the only thing that seemed to hold the movie together.
  
  

• Suprising
  By A28GZ5XS8DE660 on 2002-06-05
  Novocain is definitely not what I expected it would be. I expected a screw ball comedy that was overly done and with bad actors. That is not what this movie is though.

  Steve Martin does a brilliant job in his role and makes me believe that he could do other things besides comedies. I believe that he has the talent to do dramas. But, his comedic abilities are tremendous, and they show through in the film in spots where only he could make it funny. The other actors did a good job too. Laura Dern was terrific and Helena Bonham Carter was also excellent.

  Novocain had great editing and directing. It definitely had me intrigued into the story. I don't give it 5 stars simply because there were moments when the camera views and music were very cheesy and overdone.

  However, Novocain was an excellent film that didn't get enough praise and publicity. 4 Stars
  
  

• more Shock Value than any real Shock
  By A9Q28YTLYREO7 on 2002-06-11
  this film starts out interestingly then it becomes a bad Sore Joke.it tries to be many things without doing any one thing well to me overall.i felt it was tired in spots&never could hold up fully all the way through.it wanted Comedy,suspense&Romance but never fully developed none of them fully.
  
  
• Rinse and Spit!
  By A1R2URG8OHNEDS on 2002-07-06
  I heard of Novocaine over last years Christmas season but learned that it was a limited release feature.I knew I would probally most likly never ever see in my life but I was wrong.After viewing this feature on Pay Per View I found out that I was glad to find out about it on the Internet.

  Being not such a fan of Steve Martin's older work I was surprised on how great his preformance was.Me also being a fan of black comendy could also have something to do with me liking the film so much.The supporting cast(Helana Bonham Cater and Laura Dern)I have never even see or heard of.I have no comment on those actresses earlier on so they were a new acting experence for me.

  The film deserved a 4 star rating because of the un-nesserary profanity in the film.The volence was also a little bit too hign but all in all the plot was wonderful and the actor's preformances were excellant.Would recomend to all.

  ENJOY!
  
  

• Noir Served with Dental Floss
  By A1S5B32WYMEE44 on 2002-10-31
  I must admit that I didn't expect too much from this movie, but its noir-lightness delivered. Steve Martin plays a dentist leading a life all too mind-numbingly (as if on Novocaine) smooth, perfect, and boring until enter the femme-fatale drug addict with a heart Helena Bonham Carter. Carter is somewhat miscast, but Laura Dern as the dental assistant/fiancee to Martin's character all too perfect and perky does a role here.

  The opening montage showing the skeletal works of a person chewing are unique and when the narrator mentions decay and how it destroys from the inside out building up insidiously, it will leave you running for dental floss and a toothbrush. The director's narrative that goes along with this DVD reveals some unique facts. Take for instance, the fact that the director's father and brother were both dentists. Teeth run in the family. It lends some realism to the storyline centering on a dentists supposedly gone bad.

  Just when you think you are on to this story, it takes twists and turns that, try as you might, take you blind-sided and pleasantly surprised. There are a few moments the movie misses when sticky-sweet romance enters the equation, but for the most part the movie is right on the mark. It takes some different turns than classical noir and doesn't follow that formula. Though not on par with Hitchcock, it runs in that vein and won't disappoint someone that is looking for noir with an additional twist.
  
  

• How Do You Feel About Dentistry?
  By A1HS9F7J51E9CB on 2003-01-14
  This is an important question to ask yourself before settling down with this movie. If, like me, you feel you have to pop a few Valiums before you can even consider an exam, pause. The opening credits depict an x-rayed skull that is laughing, chewing, and swallowing and other everyday functions. It should be interesting, somewhat funny and it least clever. I broke out in a sweat.

  Steve Martin is a kindly, but obsessed with his profession type who declares and demonstrates his "perfect" world: a flawless dental practice that runs like a well-oiled machine. Much of this perfection is due to his head assistant/fiancée expertly played by Laura Dern. They look to be the perfect match. Everything about her is perfectly organized, and she is undoubtedly the perfect fiancée. The worm in the apple in the form of Helen Bonham-Carter comes in with a raging toothache and a taste for drugs. Steve is instantly smitten as only he can be. Quickly lies, deceit, suspicion and murder follow.

  The cast is excellent. Bonham-Carter carries off her waif as a grunge role with charm. Playing her psychotic hoodlum brother, Scott Caan has a menacing, jaunty swaggering charm worthy of his dad, James. The pace is good, even brisk. However, as a comedy noir, there were a few too many episodes that were painful rather than funny (usually connected with teeth.) Only Laura Dern was able to carry the audience in whatever direction she took. Steve Martin seemed more of a pitiable object; you laugh but you feel guilty.

  Good, but not memorable.
  -sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
  
  

• A horrible, horrible waste of time
  By ATQTE464YAZM1 on 2003-10-27
  This film was such a disappointment. Considering it has Steve Martin, Kevin Bacon, and Helena Bonham Carter - my favorite actress - in it, I would have expected better. But I get nothing.

  Steve Martin plays a dentist who is happily engaged to Laura Dern and has a normal life until one day he finds Helena Bonham Carter in his office. He is immediately stricken by her and starts to fantasize about her until finally he has a full fledged affair with her. Now, I would pick Helena Bonham Carter over Laura Dern any day of the week...but when we're introduced to Steve Martin's character as crazy and head over heels for his fiance, having him forget it all just for one woman he knows for about five minutes is poor writing and awful character development.

  What follows is a hideous mobius strip of a movie. Steve Martin goes to Helena Bonham Carter, some thing happens, he gets in trouble, and then he goes back to Helena Bonham Carter and every thing starts all over again. This happens a good four or five times. Halfway through the movie you're thinking "When is this going to end?!"

  Did I mention Helena Bonham Carter does nudity for this? First why does this movie need nudity, and second was she so bad on finances that she needed to be rolling around on top of Steve Martin? I was almost offended by that.

  The only savoring part of this movie is Kevin Bacon playing a famous actor (grand irony) who is one of the most competant people in the movie. Otherwise, I would just avoid this whole mess like your life depended on it.
  
  

• Conversation(s) With Other Women
• The Wings of the Dove
• Till Human Voices Wake Us
• The Heart of Me
• Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street