Novocaine
Artisan Entertainment | Release Date: November 16, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
45
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
16
Negative:
4
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
New Times (L.A.)Bill Gallo
Atkins has trouble keeping the tension high and the jokes rolling. Halfway through he begins tripping over the noir genre's dark rules, and in the end he veers off into a haze of romantic redemption that Billy Wilder and Nicholas Ray would have scoffed at. Read full review
60
Film ThreatEllen Marshall
There are a few priceless moments, like Dr. Sangster trying to work on a patient, while removing a hot pink pair of panties from a nearby chair, and the discovery of a stuffed bunny complete with a full set of dentures on his fiance's bed. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
The absurd meets the violent meets the droll, and we just watch from the outside, never having been drawn in by anything resembling believable feelings or behavior.
50
Portland OregonianKim Morgan
The film is weighed down by the decision of director David Atkins to throw too much into the mix. The result is a serious problem of consistency. Read full review
50
Village VoiceJessica Winter
Martin seems uncomfortable and oddly waxen (the orange Al Gore makeup doesn't help), injecting Frank with neither restless anger nor wry humor. Read full review
50
USA TodayClaudia Puig
With Bonham Carter's been-there, done-that performance and a plot that spins out of control, we end up with a movie that you can't quite sink your teeth into. Read full review
50
Washington PostDesson Thomson
It's too bad the movie's intriguing effect wears off (so to speak) about two-thirds through. Read full review
50
The New York TimesDana Stevens
Nothing is particularly believable here, but there are still a few moments of silly, sinister fun. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyHazel-Dawn Dumpert
If Novocaine fulfilled the promise of its premise and cast, it could be great. As it is, the film is sabotaged by writer-director David Atkins' failure to set a consistent tone and follow through. Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
Drowns promising ideas in a sea of missed details and unconvincing motivations. Read full review
42
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
There are many things wrong with Novocaine, but the film's most gnawing pain is its clodhopper farfetchedness. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
The mystery is terribly plotted and the satirical elements are limited and not very funny. Read full review
40
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
There's a mechanical desire to work in as many outlandish twists as possible, and shallow grotesquerie quickly takes over. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleSteve Davis
Given his lackluster performance, even Martin, who is no stranger to sardonic humor, seems unsure about the film's tone. Read full review
40
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Starts out stylishly, and promisingly, but then coarsens into a silly parody of film noir.
40
VarietyTodd McCarthy
A Steve Martin vehicle that's not prankish or weird enough by half. Read full review
More From This Movie

45 Critic Reviews

6.8 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL