The Unbearable Weight of Writing Movie Reviews
As soon as I started to see trailers for “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” I knew that it was going to be right up my alley. An utterly ridiculous movie starring Nick Cage and Pedro Pascal? Sign me up! Despite having been released over a year ago and my overwhelming urge to see it in theaters, I have only just watched “Massive Talent” this week. Now I’m here to share my long-awaited experience with you, dear readers.
Released in March of 2022, Tom Gormican’s “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” follows Hollywood film star and long-time legend Nicholas Cage (Nicholas Cage) as he grapples with the decline of his acting career, as well as the effects that his lifestyle have had on his family, especially his relationship with his daughter. When an audition rejection is followed closely by a particularly embarrassing incident, Nick decides that he will retire from acting — right after one last gig. Billionaire playboy Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal) has invited Nicholas Cage to his birthday party, and after some initial tensions, Javi and Nick kick off an epic bromance, kindled by their shared love of cinema. As Nick and Javi’s relationship flourishes, Nick is contacted by the CIA about some potential illegal happenings involving Javi. As you can imagine, hijinks ensue. It’s beautiful, but more importantly, it’s ridiculous. Everything is exaggerated and over the top, and nothing takes itself too seriously. I love a self-aware film and baby, this one delivers. Complete with a spy/drama/western inspired score, this is truly everything I could possibly want out of a bromantic comedy.
Obviously, we have to talk about the cast. Nicholas Cage as himself is just as wonderfully insane and over the top as we’ve all come to expect. Pedro Pascal is having himself a real renaissance, and he totally killed it as Javi. He’s so perfect in every way — cool and confident and charismatic as a billionaire should be, but also a Nick Cage superfan! I really love that Javi is noticeably nervous around Nick at first; it’s so endearing. I love Javi. I need him to be happy. The other standout performance for me was Tiffany Haddish as Vivian, one of the CIA agents giving Nick his orders. She is so funny and cool and confident, and absolutely awesome at her job. I honestly thought that I was going to get tired of the whole CIA thing, but Vivian carried so hard. I love Vivian. This whole cast was great, and came together so perfectly for an absolutely wonderful time of a movie.
All in all, this movie is just easy to watch. It’s not stressful, it’s not philosophical, it’s just a good old fashioned silly movie. Are you a little tired? A little stressed? In the mood to shut your brain off for a while? “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” will administer the tried-and-true home remedy of laughter in spades, and you’ll be out of that funk in no time, partner. On the good time-bad time scale, this one gets a “refreshing little break from the real world.”