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 Novocaine
Starring:
Steve Martin, Laura dern, Helena Bonham Carter, Scott Caan and
Elias Koteas
Directed by: David Atkins
Rated: R
Steve
Martin is a talented fellow. We've watched him morph from comedy
writer, to wild and crazy man with an Egyptian shtick to a comedic
actor and producer. In David Mamet's brilliant The Spanish
Prisoner, serious actor Steve really emerged and taught us
not to expect the same old stuff from this funny man. In Bowfinger,
which he scripted, Steve attacked Hollywood in that subtle "Martinesque"
way. Now he's turning again. This time to a subtle actor,
calm and unnerving, at the same time.
In
Novocaine Steve's a dentist a plain old guy, with no plaid,
named Frank. Frank's got a nice dental business, a beautiful,
if militant, fiancé, Jean (Laura Dern) and a whole heap
of trouble heading his way in the form of a dirty pint size cat
named Susan (Helena Bonham - "I prefer unavailable men, it's
more exciting to get them- then dump them"-Carter).
Susan
insists upon late night cleanings from the good doctor of dentistry…well,
you all know what a man, a woman and a dental chair equal. So,
faster than you can spit into a sanitized bowl, Frank's intertwined
with Susan in some gyrating molder grinding techniques Frank learned
at his academy of root canals.
But
Susan is not just after the doctor for his good looks and fancy
faux leather couches in the waiting room; seems poor Ivy's a bit
of a junkie and the doctor's office has a hefty supply of "feel
good fast" drugs in their pharmacy. Bummer.
Susan's
little shop of horrors has even more goodies to unfold; she's
got a big evil brother, Duane (Scott Caan - son of James) hell
bent on taken the good doctor down and a tragic personal history
that could be put to country music.
Jeeze, maybe Frank's brother, dirty rotten scoundrel Harlan (
Elias Koteas), the black sheep in the family, can help him...maybe.
Steve's a sexy guy. He's been gray since about twenty and he wears
it so well. He's like a heaping helping of delectable mashed potatoes
that you're just yearning to drizzle gravy all over and gobble
down like a rabid Rhesus monkey. I have adored this man since
about twelve years old ( I was innocently, sexually, precocious)
and still remember agreeing to all kinds of household duties if
only my mom would take me to see him on his World Tut Tour...Four
weeks of dishes and laundry later I sat front row...He wore no
shirt, a colorful headpiece and danced around the stage like an
aphrodisiac of endorphins. No wonder I still crave all
things Egyptian!
Helena
Bonham Carter needs a shrink for her extracurricular behaviors…that's
all I'll say about that. You know what I mean.... I'm just refering
to her Planet Of The Apes bit-o-fun this
summer where she "scooped" Tim Burton up from Lisa Marie,
and dumped Kenneth Branananagahagah her last conquest... Say,
weren't they both her directors and with romantically involved
with significant others at the time…oops! But, the chick
can act and morph at her day job — that's for sure.
Laura
Dern just doesn't do enough. She's a wonderful actress and insanely
wicked in this film! You wont see her werewolfish uber bitch teeth
right away, which is so nice! A non-telegraphed script with real
talent projected in the frames. Yummy.
The
twists are refreshing and the plot a lot of fun. Novocaine isn't
as quick a tale as Spanish Prisoner, but it's got some
clever bits that will certainly keep you intrigued and awaiting
the next frame. Steve's a great actor who definitely has a Cyrano
de Bergerac-like nose for a good script (Three Amigos forgiven-
of course). So spend a few of your pennies from heaven and get
out to see one of our most valuable comedic treasures stretch
his big manly arms of talent in yet another non-typecasting role.
Snack
Recommendation: Chocolate coated raisins! They keep a dentist's
office chock-full o' patients.
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