'The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent' Review: Nicolas Cage Unlocks The ‘Cage’ In This Self-Aware Comedy [SXSW 2022]
There is no other actor on this earth that could pull off a concept such as effortlessly, hilariously, or as Cage-y as the legendary nicolas Cage
Who is Nicholas Cage? Is he the storied thespian who has delighted audiences over the last 40 years? Or is the mythical psychopath screaming into the camera that Saturday Night Live wants you to believe? Or is he one of the most meme-able celebrities that has ever graced the digital space? The answer, judging from The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, is… yes. In this film he is everything we believe him to be and much much more. To say Cage is self-aware is an understatement. He knows exactly how he is viewed by his industry, fans, and the internet and uses those preconceptions to hilariously weave parody and reality into a wicker basket of love, appreciation and insanity.
Without spoiling the plot, Cage plays himself as he stands at the precipice of his storied career. With offers drying up and a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, and Ex-wife, Sharon Horgan, pressuring him to realize his own career mortality he decides to accept an offer to be a guest at a Spanish millionaire’s birthday party, Pedro Pascal. But the millionaire may be more nefarious than he realized and he is recruited by two CIA agents, Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz to investigate his new friend. As simple as the plot seems to be, it expertly plays off the expectations that you quickly build by subverting them in a satisfying way. You end up rooting for characters you would not expect to and hope for relationships to work out in a way that should not given the set up to the movie. The writing overall was done spectacularly by writer Kevin Etten and Director Tom Gormican. The two manage to weave references to Cage’s early career into the narrative that is both charming and satisfying to any Cage-heads out there all the while making Cage feel both real and hammy in the best way possible.
In terms of performances, this could be a notable highlight of Cage’s career. He actually plays two characters in the narrative. One is a slightly exaggerated version of the man himself with all the insecurities and flaws one can expect from an A-list actor entering the twilight of his career. The other character he plays is his mental manifestation of himself at his most eccentric whom he has dubbed: Nickey. Nickey is the embodiment of everything the internet expects out of the Mythical Nicolas Cage. The conflict and interactions between the two Nic’s are some of the best moments of the film and highlight just how self-aware the actual Nic Cage really is. The other half of this buddy comedy is Pedro Pascal’s Millionaire Javi. Pascal embodies every Cage superfan as he marvels at Cage’s aura with puppy dog eyes. He plays the role of Javi in a way that emotes child like innocence and has you rooting for the possible arms-dealer against your will. The two have a chemistry between them that carries the film to a level that is both hilariously memorable and surprisingly heartwarming. The supporting cast each have their comedic moments with Haddish and Barinholtz making the most of their screen time with hilarious banter. Paco Leon is the scene stealer of the film as Javi’s unhinged cousin Luis; his intensity and unpredictability are almost out of place in this comedy but manages to fit the film like a glove. Even Neil Patrick Harris attempts to steal the show in his minor role as Cage’s manager. Each actor has a memorable moment to latch onto and it is extremely obvious that they were having the time of their lives working with the legend that is Nicolas Cage.
On the production side of things, the film is shot beautifly and the setting takes a life of its own as we are treated to the beautiful cliffs and coast lines of Croatia standing in for coastal Spain. What is particularly impressive is the ability of the movie to blend in homages to moments from Cage’s illustrious career in a way that doesn’t feel like they are drawing too much attention to itself. The little action added to the film is impressive in itself. The action sequences are shot extremely well and parody the action style common in Cage’s early work as well as play off modern techniques. It is glaringly obvious that Director Tom Gormican not only understood how Cage is viewed by himself and the masses and uses this understanding to craft a tone to match.
There will never be another Nicholas Cage. He has unapologetically been himself for the last 40 years as an actor and has crafted, intentionally or not, an aura of manic love. There has never been a role that he hasn’t given one-hundred and ten percent of his heart and soul to. In a world where more and more aging actors devolve into direct to Redbox cash grabs while putting in the minimal effort it is hard to be in awe of Cage’s unyielding dedication to his craft. This film is not just a parody of walking meme, it is a love letter to a man who will never and should never be anyone other than Nicholas Mother ‘Effin Cage.