The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

I don't think I was alone in thinking that this film was potentially a hoax when I first saw its trailer. 

A movie with Nicolas Cage, playing himself, where he's arguably as weird as many of assume he would be, and rolled up into a CIA operation halfway across the world? To be a fly on the wall not only pitching this to studios, much less Cage himself. 

There are a lot of ways The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent could have gone wrong. Sure, the concept is conversation-worthy and intriguing alone, but Hollywood-oriented films have a tendency to be...well...pretentious. And often have a smaller market than they'd like (see: Mank). 

Where Unbearable Weight saves itself from that pitfall (mostly) is by being an accessible comedy. Remove the whole Nic Cage angle and this is a pretty straight forward buddy comedy that has solid laughs, a plot that does enough to move it along, and serviceable action. The "schtick" of it all is front-and-center to the film, yes, but it doesn't become overly bogged down with pandering to a very specific collection of Nic Cage fans, and even makes fun of them from time to time. 

Unbearable Weight follows Nic Cage in a surprisingly intimate opening where he's recently divorced, not connecting with his daughter, and finding it hard to get the kind of work he wants. During this time, an offer comes through his agent: travel to Spain for a man's birthday party and you get $1 million to help pay off your debts. Cage determines he'll attend the party and retire from acting immediately after. In that light, Unbearable Weight is a bit of a redemption arc and self-journey for Cage throughout, which is easily the most satisfying element of the plot. How much of it is true - he's had a string of marriages and divorces, no daughters (yet), but does have sons - would be interesting to know, but I suppose that's not the entire point. Regardless, the CIA angle of the remainder of the film's plot is less memorable, but it "moves the plot forward" and gives the film a lot of "trailer moments", as our core characters discuss at some point. 

"So you're telling me, you have to wear that helmet the entire time?"

Hilarious scene

I'm not sure in a million years if anyone would have thought pairing Nicolas Cage with Pedro Pascal (out of his Mandalorian armor, mind you) could have been so effective, but here were are and, it's a ton of fun. Cage, who's a unique performer in his own class, brings his usual zaniness in a grounded manner, compared to what it could have been in a film all about him. He's having fun and leans into the comedy bits easily. Pascal is a lovable, innocent, hard-core Nicolas Cage movie fan and it's a delight to watch him in such a light role. They have out-of-nowhere chemistry that breathes a lot of life into the film and comes alive during some of the better comedy moments. An acid trip scene in particular had my theater in stitches, thanks to their paranoia. 

In terms of comedy and action, Unbearable Weight has highlights of the former and adequate aspects of the latter. The action is nothing special - which, to be fair, I never really expected it to be - while the comedy is consistently funny, with some bits being really funny, but felt too far and in between for me to say it's going to be a top comedy of the year (though time will tell on that front, I suppose).

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a very easy recommendation and an even easier/enjoyable watch. It's a highly original concept that likes to poke fun at itself and Hollywood in a way that feels like you get the joke rather than being on the outside looking in. How good and/or memorable the film is without the Nic Cage aspect would obviously be lesser, but for what's here, it's a good time. 

CONS

• Film outside of the Nic Cage angle would be largely forgettable
• Action is just...there (not a huge deal)
• Drug lord plot is there just to move things along
• Comedy feels too sparse in the back half

PROS

• Delightfully original and zany with a unique premise
• Has some very solid laughs, largely thanks to Cage and Pascal's chemistry
• Plot aspects surrounding Cage's search for redemption are thoughtful and the best parts of the story
• Likely goes without saying but Cage is great as...himself
• Pascal is a lot of fun and given all the heavier material he's done/been doing/going to do, it's nice to see something this light
• Entertaining, short and sweet, and enjoyable

Rath's Review Score | 7.5/10