I tend to not like movies like this.
There are way too many action comedies coming out of the studio system nowadays that are uncreative, tame, poorly made and boring, but audiences give them a pass simply because ‘it’s not meant to be taken seriously’, which is why we keep getting variations of that same movie over and over again (the latest iterations being _The Lost City_, _Red Notice_, and _Uncharted_).
Moreover, this is directed by the same guy who made _That Awkward Moment_, which was the worst film of 2014, in my humble opinion.
So, having not seen any trailers, my expectations were low to say the least.

And yet, against all odds, this thing is consistently funny, clever, creative and occasionally batshit.
The concept is a real stroke of genius, whoever conceived it needs a raise.
I love how it plays with our perception of Nick Cage, and it wouldn’t be nearly as good if they’d used a different actor.
It’s still a little predictable because of its studio film trappings, but it’s also filled with great ideas, good characters, funny moments and lots of meta references that all add to the story.
It maintains some real heart as well, a lot like how these movies used to be in the 80s and 90s.
Also, they find great ways to twist the tropes of movies like this.
You’ve seen the concept of an incapable person being recruited by the CIA before (_Chuck_ made an entire tv show out of it), but this movie knows that and plays around with it.
Technically, it’s fine. The cinematography is decent, with the locations helping out a lot.
It’s a nice reminder of the power of shooting on locations instead of soundstages, but don’t expect another _The Batman_ or _The Northman_ here.

It’s just a nice, very likable film.
I don’t even think you need to be into Nick Cage’s back catalogue in order to enjoy it (though you’ll get a lot more out of it if you are).
Not a masterpiece by any stretch, but I’ll say this: if you’re considering to go to the latest blockbuster with mediocre reviews this summer, just know that this is probably the better and more fun alternative on streaming.
To be honest though, you should really just grab a few beers and see this with a group of friends in theaters.
It’s the perfect film for that type of experience.

7.5/10

It certainly seems like _The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent_ will have a deeper impact on you if you’re at least somewhat of a fan of Nicolas Cage’s work, but could also be amusing for fans of absurd adult comedies. Pedro Pascal is the humorous wingman we all wish we could have; soft-spoken and yet a priceless factor in the overall ludicrous nature of the film. Meanwhile, Nicolas Cage continues to reign supreme as a talented lunatic at the top of his game. _The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent_ is an outrageous and uproarious expedition into hilarity and absurdity. Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are an unlikely yet brilliant comical duo that will have you rolling on the sticky movie theater floor with laughter.

**Full review:** https://hubpages.com/entertainment/The-Unbearable-Weight-of-Massive-Talent-2022-Review-The-R-Rated-Action-Comedy-of-a-Lifetime

For the first 1/3 of the movie, I thought the parody of Nicolas Cage's career and life may have been taken too far. The cringe level was kept very high, and I was embarrassed to watch. However, as the plot started to push forward, the characters moved with it and made for an enjoyable movie. I laughed pretty hard at a few scenes, and the ending was satisfying. It just took a long time to change my mind from disappointed to appreciative.

The good stuff:
** Pedro Pascal (Wonder Woman 1984) was excellent as Javi, an unassuming "crime boss" that just wanted to meet Ncolas Cage. Javi was funny while maintaining appropriate levels of badassery to help the audience believe his lifestyle.
** During the scenes where Nic Cage is trying to be a hero, he actually looks like an actor playing a live action star without choreographed moves. As such, the character wings a lot of it, sometimes to hilarious ends.

The bummers:
-- I guess I'm just not a fan of Tiffany Haddish. At no point is she believable as a CIA agent. I'm not saying Ike Barinholtz is either, but at least he was comic relief. She just makes me question the casting director.
-- Cage's absence from his family's life to pursue his career would have been enough to believe his current status, but the hubris was a little over the top. The cringe level was almost too much to keep watching.

I was floating along with 4/10 stars in my mind for a while, then added two stars when the plot kicked in and when we got to see more of Pedro Pascal. The movie was OK, but it wasn't good enough to require that you see it in theaters.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is the Nicholas Cage show that I wanted but didn't fully know I needed.

This movie is fun, zany, witty, and just pure entertainment. I had a smile on my face for the entire movie. It doesn't take itself or the persona of Nicholas Cage very seriously. Often times poking fun at the career of Cage and the multitude of movies he has been, while simultaneously painting him as an absent and poor father. This is no easy task for an actor to face, but he does it excellently and really embraces his faults.

The plot is no cinematic masterpiece but it doesn't have to be. The best points in the is movie is the chemistry between Nick Cage and Pedro Pascal. They were beautifully synergized on screen and carried this movie to conclusion. It was so much fun seeing them develop a bromance that often times I found myself forgetting he was even suppose to be a villain.

It is not often you find a movie that is so self aware of what it is trying to be, but this movie tackles that so effectively creating a fun experience that any audience can enjoy.

Score: 78%
Verdict: Great

No-one could ever accuse Nicolas Cage of not having a sense of humour. He plays himself for most of this, depicting a somewhat fallen star whose agent (Neil Patrick Harris) finds him a gig for $1m to go to the birthday party of his wealthy Mallorcan superman "Javi" (Pedro Pascal). Lack of options force him to travel and he quite quickly befriends his adulatory, spring screenplay writer, amigo. Snag - well Tiffany Haddish ("Vivan") is the CIA on the island, and she tries to co-opt him onto a cunning plan to trap "Javi" - whom she believes to be a criminal kingpin behind the kidnap of the daughter of a politician. What now ensue are some quite fun escapades as the actor has to turn his hand to skills he would do off pat if he were in front of a camera, but not so readily in "real life" - and it turns out that he isn't half bad, either. Is "Javi" really the baddie? Will Cage rise to the challenge? All is revealed in this amiable parody of not just many of his own films, but of espionage and action drama in general. It's got some car chases, fancy locations, power boats and a room with a waxwork that would not have looked out of place with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. A bit ripe at times, the dialogue is peppered with plenty of wittiness and Cage plays the exasperated, then terrified, then motivated actor with aplomb and with his tongue in his cheek. Pascal makes for a fun foil keeping the bromance bubbling along nicely, and with Sharon Horgan delivering well as his long-suffering ex-wife ("Olivia") this is a well paced and enjoyable adventure romp.