Pain isn’t fun, but sometimes it’s necessary. Without being able to feel it, we’re freed from impediments, but we’re also freed from the guardrails that keep us safe.

That’s something Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) has dealt with his whole life. He was born without the ability to feel pain. While some might quickly see it as a gift, Nathan has dealt with the potential danger all his life. It’s kept him set apart and isolated to ensure he doesn’t unknowingly hurt himself.

That’s also kept him from forming attachments, too. That changes when he meets Sherry (Amber Midthunder), a teller at the bank where he’s an assistant manager. They have a spark and a connection that leads to a magical date. That leaves Nathan feeling alive, perhaps for the first time.

But nothing in life is free from pain. When the bank is robbed and Sherry is taken hostage, he sees his newfound happiness hanging in the balance. He’s faced with a choice—play it safe as he’s long done or use his special skill to safeguard the woman he loves.

If you’ve seen the trailer, you know Nathan chooses peril, or rather love. And the result is an adrenaline-fueled ride that goes in some unexpected ways. That’s the set up for Novocaine, a new action film that opens on Friday.

Quaid has had a big start to 2025. He was strong in Companion, one of the first strong releases of the new year back in January. Now, he plays a different kind of character here. There’s more charm and you can’t help but root for Nathan to save the day and get the girl.

Along for the ride, we get a fun turn from Jacob Batalon, who plays Nathan’s only real friend. Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh play a pair of cops hot on the trail of Nathan—and the robbers. Walsh has some of the funniest lines and deliveries in the film.

But this comes down to Midthunder and Quaid. The whole gambit relies on their chemistry early, which is endearing and feels natural. They have some great interactions and it’s not hard to see why Nathan would go on a quest to win her freedom. There are some twists and turns along the way, but this is a story—and a couple—you can’t help but root for throughout the film.

Quaid does a great job in the lead role. He seems to be having fun and makes the story more fun, too.

There is a lot to like with Novocaine, but it has some drawbacks, too. The film drags a bit in the second and especially the third act. There feels like too many endings, and the final confrontation isn’t as interesting as the film would like it to be. I enjoyed most of the ride, but it could have been a tighter presentation that focused more on Nathan and Sherry and their journey.

Overall, this is a fun enough ride that will be a solid time at the theater, especially for fans of action. It’s also a great boost to Quaid, who deserves some more leading roles.

Novocaine opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 14.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.