‘The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent’ Review

_{By: Amanda Guarragi}

There is one actor who has always given a unique performance in any film he has been in and his name is Nicolas Cage. Whether you have been a fan from his early days or have fallen into his resurgence with him working on very different pieces, everyone knows how good of an actor he is. He always commits to his roles and chooses the filmmakers he wants to work with. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is truly the definitive Nicolas Cage movie because it embodies his complexities as an actor, a father, and his creative mind. This cast works together extremely well and you will be surprised with how fun it is.

In this film, Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a man named Javi’s (Pedro Pascal) birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when CIA operatives Vivian (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin (Ike Barinholtz) recruit Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channelling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones. The storyline may feel a bit generic, but Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal elevate it to another level. Their energy with one another carried the entire second act and it was so entertaining to watch. Not only does the film shift between comedy, drama, and action, but it perfectly showcases who Nicolas Cage is as a person.

We get to see Nicolas Cage show his range and how he processes being an actor at his age. It feels like such a personal film without him being fully involved with the screenplay. We also get to see how Hollywood actually works and how they can sometimes treat middle-aged actors who don’t have the same level of fame anymore. It’s constructed so audiences can understand the industry as a job and not just for glamour. In the film, Cage has a strained relationship with his daughter and his wife, so he gives a grounded and emotional performance when it comes to them. Then with Javi, he remembers who he is; the young, working actor, who had some of his best roles in the 90s, helping him change his career around later in his life. Not only did it dive deep into Cage’s massive talents, but the movie came with a lot of laughs.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent will be released in theatres on April 22nd. If you are a massive fan of Nicolas Cage, then you definitely need to buy a ticket. Even if you’ve never really been a fan of his (like me), this movie will make you appreciate him a bit more. The first two acts are very entertaining and filled with plenty of laughs and great emotional moments, but the third act falls into generic territory with the action sequences. There is a reveal at the end which was predictable, but that doesn’t take away from how unique this movie is. It does, for the most part, feel refreshing because a movie like this hasn’t really been done before.