HCA Gradebook: “The Bad Guys”
April 17, 2023
HCA Gradebook: “The Northman”
April 19, 2023
Film: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Plot: In this action-packed comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, channeling his iconic characters as he’s caught between a superfan (Pedro Pascal) and a CIA agent (Tiffany Haddish).
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish, Sharon Horgan, and Neil Patrick Harris
Director: Tom Gormican
Release Date: April 22, 2022
Studio: Lionsgate
HCA Overall Grade: A-
Sara Clements says, “Nick Cage is out for a kind of redemption. Nicolas Cage doesn’t need it. As the film states, Hollywood only has faith in Marvel movies to put butts in seats. Cage’s name alone can do that. Just like the character he plays here, many thought Cage disappeared, that his career was dried-up. But audiences just weren’t looking. He didn’t and isn’t going anywhere.”
Grade: A-
Dewey Singleton says, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is one of 2022’s biggest surprises. While, on the surface, it seems that this movie is pretty self-explanatory, my advice to anyone planning to see it is to avoid any spoilers going in. There’s more to this movie than an over-the-top Nicolas Cage. It’s a charming yet delightful look at fandom and the attraction the limelight can have over someone.”
Grade: A-
Francisco Cangiano says, “The film is everything I was hoping it to be. A charming love letter to Nicolas Cage’s career and to the art of cinema in it itself. It’s meta, clever and funny – with lots of heart. The Nick Cage/Pedro Pascal duo is freaking adorable. Made me cheer, laugh and even cry. So far, one of my favorite films of the year.”
Grade: A-
Peggy Marie says, “Delivering it all in one fail swoop of comedy, drama, action, and family combined – show audiences that in order to make a great movie – you do not need to be from the Marvel/DC Universe or more than two hours to be an excellent film. Seems as though all you really need is Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal.”
Grade: A+
Chauncey K. Robinson says, “Nicolas Cage and the cast really shine in this adult comedy. Even if you’re not an avid Cage fan the concept and themes are witty and entertaining enough. If you are a Cage fan then you will be on cloud 9 with all the references to the iconic actor’s work over the years. The supporting cast shines through as well, in particular Pedro Pascal and Tiffany Haddish.”
Grade: A
Anthony Digioia says, “Massive Talent is a delightful recipe of smart humor, Cage, comical adventures, Cage from the past, lighthearted self-awareness, nostalgia, Pascal on his own comical level, more Cage, redemption, crisp comedic timing, reflection and Cage at his best as, himself! A cinematic treat!”
Grade: A
Maggie Lovitt says, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is insane. It’s a movie that, on paper, sounds like a bad acid trip—but it’s actually the best kind of acid trip.”
Grade: A+
Abbie Bernstein says, “A rare ‘actor playing himself’ comedy that gets around the pitfalls of the subgenre as deftly as an Olympic skier navigating an obstacle course. The film is genuinely fun, and genuinely funny, and has Pedro Pascal in a sweetly perfect turn as Cage’s most devoted fan.”
Grade: B+
Dan Murrell says, “Nicolas Cage tweaks his own image in a good-natured comedy that finds ‘Nick Cage’ desperate enough to attend a birthday party for millionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Cage and Pascal make a great onscreen duo and the movie is at its best when they’re sharing the screen. While some subplots don’t work as well, the meta-comedy and chemistry between leads make this a great time at the movies. Plus, any film that gives Paddington 2 its deserved praise is okay in my book.”
Grade: B+
Demetri Panos says, “Nicolas Cage playing himself is massive entertainment worth the ticket price. Proving what we may have already believed: Cage loves the work and isn’t so stogy about it; he has a groovy sense of humor even when the jokes are at his expense. Massive Talent isn’t unbearable to watch. At best, it might inspire you to have your own Nicolas Cage film festival when you get home. At the very least, you might feel the need to watch Paddington 2.”
Grade: B
Stacey Yvonne says, “Starring Nicolas Cage as himself and Pedro Pascal as his number one fan, Massive Talent takes a look at the co-dependent relationship between fan and superstar. In the film, Cage mentions that he always thought of it as a “job.” He’s got bills to pay and mouths to feed. But we see that he’s clearly in it for more than the money. The validation is just as important, and he gets not just from a job well done but a job well received. It’s a fascinating and utterly delightful ride.”
Grade: A
Scott Menzel says, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is everything that a Nicolas Cage fan could want from a film. The film allows Cage to showcase his range as an actor by incorporating action, comedy, and drama into the film. Pedro Pascal is perfectly cast as Javi Gutierrez, a massive Nick Cage fan, who also happens to be a billionaire and pays him to show up for his birthday party. The film is not only a lot of fun but is arguably one of those films that is almost impossible to dislike. It is chock full of charm and Nicolas Cage has no problem reminding audiences once again why he is one of the finest actors working today.”
Grade: A-
Zachary Pope says, “Nick Cage + Pedro Pascal = MUST SEE MOVIE! A film that’s drowned down by the CIA subplot but man does everything else bring such a meta awesomeness that you can’t help but laugh and smile.”
Grade: B-
Aaron Neuwirth says, “Once the true premise kicks in, Nicolas Cage delivers a line reading pulled straight out of Matchstick Men, one of my favorite films starring the Oscar-winning actor. This was when I started to let my guard down. There’s a lot of fun and some clever bits in this wacky comedy.”
Grade: B
James White says, “Focused, funny and frenetic at times, The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent is a tribute to Cage that also manages to be meta, satirical and goofy all at once. Nicolas Cage shines as a version of himself who accepts an offer to attend a billionaire’s (Pedro Pascal, all winning charm) birthday and becomes wrapped up in the tentacles of a massive criminal empire. Director Tom Gormican provides the perfect vehicle for Cage at this stage of his career, one that sometimes threatens to careen off the road but ultimately works as an action-comedy that doesn’t fall back on one lazy joke.”
Grade: A
Lupe Rodriguez Haas says, “The fact that they got Nicolas Cage to play himself in a self-parody is an amazing feat. It’s like going inside the quirky icon’s mind and getting answers to all our nagging questions about why he does what he does. His eccentricities are put on display and you love the actor even more after finishing the film.”
Grade: A
Debbie Elias says, “Talk about massive talent! It’s NICOLAS FU**ING CAGE! He’s having a blast and it shows. Cage is on a roll with Willy’s Wonderland, Pig and now Massive Talent. Smart and clever, the beauty of this film lies within the joke itself and Cage’s brilliance in embracing “Nick Cage”. Pedro Pascal’s Javi is a scream. Beautifully lensed by Nigel Bluck with rapier editing by Melissa Bretherton, the film’s look and pacing are spot on. Massive Talent is massively marvelous.”
Grade: A
Kate Sanchez says, “Show up to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent for Pedro and Nic’s chemistry alone but stay for the really warm and fuzzy look at fandom, film, and connecting over it.”
Grade: B+
Mara Knopic says, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent fulfills the expectation set for itself as the “most Nicholas Cage movie ever” as it threads the needle between being obnoxiously over-the-top or having allusions that are meant for only the die-hard Cage fan. The chemistry between Nicholas Cage and Pedro Pascal is palpable and their blossoming emotional connection to one another is the backbone upon which the frivolities of the rest of the film are built. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent does not necessarily offer anything ground-breaking in terms of its general plot and meta-humor, but the way in which that vision is executed allows the movie to feel fresh and engaging. Between his performance in this film and Michael Sarnoski’s Pig, it appears that Nicholas Cage may be entering his own version of a McConaissance, and if Paddington 3 does not have a way to include him it will be truly un-Bear-able.”
Grade: A-
Yael Tygiel says, “Personally, I love when the butt of the joke is also in on the joke. Going in with super low expectations, I was genuinely surprised at how enjoyable Unbearable Weight is, since the entire joke is Nicholas Cage. For an actor who doesn’t stop putting out films, it’s hard to say what is his best performance, but this movie should definitely be listed among the top.”
Grade: A-
Jana N Nagase says, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is so f***ing good and hilarious! The jokes, the timing, the surprises, and the chemistry between Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are perfect and so fun to watch! There is a Paddington 2 reference so on point and one of the funniest scenes in the movie.”
Grade: A-
Zoe Rose Bryant says, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a near-masterclass in meta moviemaking, featuring a gonzo, go-for-broke performance from Nicolas Cage – which spotlights some of his most winning work in years – and a stellar supporting turn from the side-splitting and scene-stealing Pedro Pascal. One could say it’s more creative in conception than execution, but thanks to its marvelously meta script and Cage and Pascal’s infectious chemistry, it’s an utterly irresistible cinematic excursion.”
Grade: B+
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is now playing exclusively in theaters
