Film: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

I grew up with Nicolas Cage films through my older siblings' influence of FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH and RAISING ARIZONA and my own countless rewatching of FACE/OFF or THE ROCK. No matter what era of films I was watching, Nic Cage has had an impressionable influence on my early filmography. Unfortunately, as it is with most over-saturation, my opinions began to shift to a not-so appreciative side of the coin.

That opinion has not only stopped, but I have gained a new understanding and love for his work, all thanks to Tom Gormican’s new film THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT. This film is an entertaining yet earnest glimpse into the life of the film icon. It is much more than what it appears, just like Cage himself, and it deserves further investigation on the big screen.

The plot of THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT revolves around an in-need-of-work Nicolas Cage who reluctantly takes a gig that entails him going to a mega fan’s, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal), birthday party as an esteemed guest. Javi isn’t just a super fan, he also is a supposed drugs and arms kingpin. The CIA weasels their way into this arrangement to get intel, and it’s not long for Nicolas Cage to get wrapped up in a spy thriller where his greatest talent, acting, is put to the test.

As soon as the film starts the audience realizes the film they thought they watching was in fact not the journey they are about to take. That’s why THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT is such a fun film. It knew what it was, a meta film with a very unique talent, but the story didn’t hammer that element into the storyline. There is a nice passing of the torch cameo from a former caricature-of-self actor who rebooted himself to fame, Neil Patrick Harris (HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE), but Harris’ version of himself in Harold and Kumar was very different from the way Nicolas Cage is expressed in this one. 

Of course, you do still have the expected ‘overacting’ Nic Cage that takes place during an improvised audition (with a tip-of-the-hat cameo by director David Gordon Green) and the appearance of the alter ego of Nicky Cage, but for the most part, you are just enjoying the new age of Cage. The caricature of Nic Cage you are expecting is not a caricature at all, instead, it’s the version we don’t see very often, himself. Or, as close as you can get to himself while playing a version of himself. Gormican’s script does a wonderful job of allowing the audience to enjoy the metaverse of this film but never once disrespecting Cage, his career, or his personal life. The regard Gormican has for Cage can be felt throughout the entire film. This was a passion project, and warmth is what THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT was created with.

As much as this movie is an exploration of Cage, there is a nudge to the audiences’ perceived knowledge of the public image of Nic Cage through the aforementioned alter-ego Nicky Cage. The rumor and myth of Nic Cage have grown over the decades and as pop culture consumers, we expect to witness this Page Six persona unfold in front of our eyes. But when that doesn’t happen, you begin to second guess what your preconceived notions are and should be about this working actor. Maybe I’m viewing Nicky Cage with too much meta influence, but we all need those moments of reflection when we are influenced by others. In a way, I think that’s what Gormican was trying to do, allowing the audience to step away from themselves and enjoy the talented actor that Cage is.

For me, the best part of THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT is Pascal as Javi. After being blessed with Pascal’s acting ability for almost a decade, it has been wonderful seeing him break routine and venture into more comedy. Who knew that under his protective smolder lies a man with brilliant comedic timing. It’s hard not to fall in love with his Javi, a goofy mega-fan who is trying to play it cool, and you relate to his enthusiasm in meeting his idol. The chemistry between Pascal and Cage is also effortless, each complimenting the other, and pivoting arcs when needed. One scene may call for Cage to spend time in a frenzy to offset the intensity of Pascal, while in others a kooky Pascal brings the fervent Cage back to reality. I’m ecstatic I was able to spend an entire movie in the presence of these two, I never knew this was the buddy movie I wanted and needed.

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT keeps the audience on their toes. Throughout the film, we take a roller coaster ride through many emotions, from never quite knowing what is up Javi’s sleeves, to the emotional complexity of a separated family, to being exposed to a new version of Nicolas Cage, and finally navigating the tense tasks inflicted by CIA agents (who are played by the dynamic team of Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz). That might seem like the film is all over the place, but it needs to be in order to make space for the different layers this film explores. Nothing is what it seems, and the surprises that unfold are what makes this film enjoyable, and a future iconic rewatch.

It’s difficult to discuss specifics without giving the best bits away. There are snippets in the trailer, but even those don’t give away the entirety of their length that we see in the movie. The little you know about this film, the better. It’s a phenomenal ride, one best experienced unaware. You will not be disappointed, you will fall in love with Cage all over again, not that he went anywhere.

I will say that there is a trivia element about THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT that I find fascinating. Apparently, there were two versions in circulation at one point. One version had a few scenes that were longer and a few more scenes with specific character interactions. These missing scenes sound hysterical, but their exclusion doesn’t change my love for the final cut. The version I saw was hilarious, unexpectedly heartfelt, and reawakened my appreciation for Cage’s talent and my new interest in a comedic Pascal. It does, however, mean that I plan on owning it in the future, I can’t wait for the deleted scenes. This might be my new Happy Place film.

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT opens nationwide in theaters on April 22, 2022.

Written by Lisa M Mejia
Images provided by Lionsgate