2001
R
Artisan Entertainment
1 h 35 m

2001
R
Artisan Entertainment
1 h 35 m

Summary An edgy, unpredictable crime thriller, starring Steve Martin as a prosperous dentist whose well-ordered existence is thrown into turmoil when an alluring new patient draws him into a seedy underworld of sex, drugs and murder. (Artisan Entertainment)

Directed By: David Atkins

Written By: Paul Felopulos, David Atkins

2001
R
Artisan Entertainment
1 h 35 m

2001
R
Artisan Entertainment
1 h 35 m

Novocaine

Name: Novocaine
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2001-11-16
Duration: 1 min 35 s
Rating: 45
Cast: Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Chelcie Ross, Laura Dern, Lynne Thigpen

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 27 Critic Reviews

User Score Generally Favorable Based on 24 User Ratings

6.6

My Score

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Where to Watch

Directed By: David Atkins

Written By: Paul Felopulos, David Atkins

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 27 Critic Reviews

26% Positive
7 Reviews

59% Mixed
16 Reviews

15% Negative
4 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

View All

Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 27 Critic Reviews

26% Positive
7 Reviews

59% Mixed
16 Reviews

15% Negative
4 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Boston Globe

Quite apart from wringing the last molecule of vividness from his freewheeling roster of loose cannons, he brings to his direction of Martin a finesse shared by only a few of the directors who have worked with the comedian-actor.

By Jay Carr FULL REVIEW

Los Angeles Times

Martin is marvelous; through sheer charisma, he takes over certain scenes as if no one else is there.

By John Anderson FULL REVIEW

L.A. Weekly

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.

By Hazel-Dawn Dumpert FULL REVIEW

Village Voice

Martin seems uncomfortable and oddly waxen (the orange Al Gore makeup doesn't help), injecting Frank with neither restless anger nor wry humor.

By Jessica Winter FULL REVIEW

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Drowns promising ideas in a sea of missed details and unconvincing motivations.

By Sean Axmaker FULL REVIEW

TV Guide Magazine

The mystery is terribly plotted and the satirical elements are limited and not very funny.

By Ken Fox FULL REVIEW

Washington Post

A coarse, witless and stunningly violent black comedy.