Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen | Written by Lars Jacobson | 110 min | ▲▲▲1/2

San Diego assistant bank manager Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) lives with an invisible disability — a disorder of his nervous system that means he’s unable to feel pain. Since he was a kid he’s been adding cushions to his life, tennis balls at the edges of the furniture and avoiding solid food because he’s afraid of biting off his tongue.

Into his world of caution walks bank teller Sherry (Amber Midthunder, Prey), and Nate is smitten. The opening act details their burgeoning romance, with Nate finding the courage to venture out from his extracurricular video-gaming with online buddy, Roscoe (Jacob Batalon, Spider-Man‘s buddy Ned).

So far, so delightful. I had questions about Nate’s condition — like what’s the moment where sensation becomes discomfort? — but as a premise for a comedy action picture, this is solid stuff. Selling it is Quaid, who fans of The Boys and Star Trek: Lower Decks will know well. He has real movie star charisma, which maybe isn’t a shock given his parents — he’s the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

I’m not someone who buys into the performative internet outrage around Nepo Babies — competition for Hollywood success is too fierce for anyone with a recognizable name but no talent or work ethic to survive for long — but I couldn’t help but chuckle when I recognized Ray Nicholson, the son of Jack, as the central antagonist, Simon. The next generation of stars, represent!

Simon and a couple of his buddies rob the bank, killing Nate’s boss and taking Sherry hostage, inspiring Nate to shake off any lingering fear for his own wellbeing in order to save her. It turns out that being unable to feel pain is a distinct advantage when dealing with violent psychopaths like Simon. Enter two police detectives (Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh) who figure maybe Nate’s in cahoots with the robbers.

This is R-Rated material in a way that regularly goes over the top — if you think the idea of someone who can’t feel pain getting his fingernails pulled out in bloody close-up is funny, then I have a movie for you. But mostly this picture evokes the goofier, high-concept action comedies of the 1980s in a way that feels both welcome and familiar.

Would it have been nice to see more of actual San Diego for a better sense of location? Absolutely, but then this was shot in Cape Town, explaining the surfeit of close-ups in the exteriors. The broad charm of the cast and a script full of zingers plasters over most of the plot holes, of which there are a few — a house full of snares, morning stars, and crossbows under the sink makes no sense, but a well-placed Home Alone gag makes it all OK.  Novocaine is a popcorn movie surprise.