Dr Frank Sangster (Steve Martin) is a dentist who seems to have the perfect life. He has a busy practice, a lovely fiancée and a very nice home. He seems very happy until Susan Ivey (Helena Bonham Carter), a new patient needing a root canal, comes into his office. After attempting to seduce Dr. Sangster, she steals a large amount of narcotics from his office. Rather than turn her into the police, Dr. Sangster tries to take care of the situation himself. Attraction will make you do things you probably shouldn’t do, says Dr. Sangster.
The film follows the progression of trouble that Dr. Sangster finds himself getting into as this simple lie unravels into a tale involving murder, drugs, seedy hotels, angry siblings and more murder. The story is told in a comedic, film-noir style that sometimes can’t make up its mind whether it’s going for straight laughs or dramatic tension.
Still, in an odd way, Novocaine works. Most of its success comes as a result of strong performances by Steve Martin and Helena Bonham Carter. They have a strange but palpable on-screen chemistry. Laura Dern and Elias Koteas provide interesting work in their supporting roles as well. Look for Kevin Bacon in a minor role that’s simply hilarious. Scott Caan is merely adequate as Susan’s crazed brother. Thankfully, his screen time is limited.
Some might want to make comparisons between Novocaine and The Man Who Wasn’t There, which both feature seemingly ordinary men thrust into a situation as a result of boredom or lust. Such a comparison would favor The Man Who Wasn’t There as the superior film on all points, but Novocaine is still immensely entertaining and much lighter in tone.
Novocaine is yet another interesting film in the up and down career of Steve Martin. Based on his on-screen presence in this movie, I’d like to suggest more roles of this type and less of the mediocre Out-of-Towners and Father of the Bride dreck.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
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