It’s hard to imagine the world of Hollywood without Nicolas Cage. After being in the biz for over 40 years, the Academy Award-winning actor has made quite the name for himself with bold and outlandish roles in a wide array of films such as Face/Off, Raising Arizona, Con Air, Ghost Rider, Moonstruck, Mandy, Vampire’s Kiss, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Leaving Las Vegas, Pig, and National Treasure.
So when The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’s meta premise was announced, it got heads turning. Although this isn’t the first film to feature an actor that’s essentially playing themselves in a project (see John Malkovich’s Being John Malkovich or Casey Affleck’s Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary I’m Still Here), it highlights just how iconic some actors’ personas are that they warrant a cinematic iteration.
What is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent About?
Nicolas Cage’s latest film is all about… well Nicolas Cage. This glorified caricature of himself, known wittily as Nick Cage, is down on his luck, running out of money, and left feeling unfulfilled in his career. After receiving a $1 million offer to attend a “dangerous superfan’s” (Pedro Pascal) birthday celebration, he has no choice but to accept. Hijinx ensues as he’s roped into assisting with a CIA investigation and as the studio’s synopsis puts it, “is forced to live up to his own legend, channeling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones.”
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Cast
As if it wasn’t clear before, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’s main protagonist is Nicolas Cage as himself — filling the roles of both the actor and character. Joining Nick, are Pedro Pascal as Nick Cage superfan and eccentric billionaire Javi Gutierrez, Sharon Horgan as Nick’s latest fictional ex-wife, Ike Barinholtz as CIA agent Martin, Alessandra Mastronardi as Gabriela, Jacob Scipio as Carlos, Tiffany Haddish as CIA agent Vivian, and Neil Patrick Harris as Nick’s talent agent, Richard Fink.
Reactions to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
So far, both critic and audience reception for this movie is exceedingly positive. The New York Post’s Johnny Oleksinski spotlights the gags and comedy of the film yet emphasizes that Nicolas Cage’s personality is heightened to “just the right amount to ensure the film rises above a skit.” With a script that’s so off the wall and weird, Wired’s Eric Ravenscraft says that it’s “so much more than that” and even goes on to say that the film “celebrates cinema itself.”
Many Twitter users were raving about the latest Nicolas Cage movie as well:
It was fantastic I think it might be Nicolas Cage’s best film. It’s hilarious, it’s actually kinda beautiful and emotional too. I speculated before watching that it would be an Oscar worthy performance from Nic and now having watching it I stand by that statement 1000%
— Smash Trivia (@SmashTriviaJohn) April 21, 2022
In order to portray himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Cage spent 58 years being himself pic.twitter.com/RcnhyjNPz7
— (shitty) Movie Details (@shittykino) April 20, 2022
The unbearable weight of massive talent is the best movie I’ve ever seen
— battybanshee💙💛 (@Battybanshee_) April 22, 2022
Once you’ve had the chance to see it for yourself, let us know your thoughts by tweeting us at @hollywood_com.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Rating and Run Time
The movie is rated R for its usage of drugs and gun violence as well as language. It runs at a modest length of 1 hour and 46 minutes.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Release Date
You can see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent now as it hits theaters on April 22, 2022! Its opening weekend will be a crowded one as it premieres alongside Robert Egger’s Viking revenge epic The Northman and the Dreamworks Animation villain redemption story The Bad Guys.
Looking for other movies out now? Take a look at the newest releases currently playing in theaters.
