Jacked In Reviews ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ (2022)

Trisha Yearwood’s How Do I Live begins to play over the opening credits and we are met with two stoners watching the finale of Con Air. Straight away you know this movie is going to give Nicolas Cage fans everything they want (and then some).

The story follows Nicolas Cage as… Himself. However, things aren’t going too well for this parodied version of Mr Cage career-wise. As a last resort, he ends up taking a handsomely paid gig which involves hanging out with superfan, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal) who wants to make a movie with his idle. However, after a run-in with the CIA, Nick finds out Javi may be the head of a dangerous terrorist organization.

Now, that briefly sums up the story itself, but there are so many things to love about this picture. Not only is the actor unapologetically Nick (F*CKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN, WOO!) Cage in all the best ways possible, but there are also tons of easter eggs and nods to Cage’s past movies throughout. From the more obvious references after Cage is reunited with his golden Face/Off firearms to the more subtle, like following a meta-story structure similar to that of Adaptation.

If you’re not a Cage fan, you may not get some of the references, but that takes nothing away from the comedic aspects of the film. If you are, you can live vicariously through the adorable Javi who acts as a vessel for Cage fans everywhere. Either way, it’s a fun, clever, action-packed celebration of the actor’s career and Cage just does what he does best.

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