*some minor spoilers*
Novocaine has some original touches to it, but doesn't come through all the way by the end of the film. Steve Martin is good in the role though he isn't given many chances to really craft the role so much as emulate a thousand other "regular guy in trouble" types in the same situation. The voice over falls flat and only occasionally makes an appearance in the movie, making me think it was either an afterthought or greatly cut from its original length. There are some trying moments in this film, cliches you've seen a million other times (ventilation duct escapes), but if you stick around there's something frightfully funny or original soon after (who wouldn't want to shove their dentist into their trunk?). Helena Bonham Carter acts circles around everyone else with what she's given and I think that fact alone keeps the film from being completely typical. Editing and cinematography should also given credit for lifting this film from average to above average.
Novocaine has some original touches to it, but doesn't come through all the way by the end of the film. Steve Martin is good in the role though he isn't given many chances to really craft the role so much as emulate a thousand other "regular guy in trouble" types in the same situation. The voice over falls flat and only occasionally makes an appearance in the movie, making me think it was either an afterthought or greatly cut from its original length. There are some trying moments in this film, cliches you've seen a million other times (ventilation duct escapes), but if you stick around there's something frightfully funny or original soon after (who wouldn't want to shove their dentist into their trunk?). Helena Bonham Carter acts circles around everyone else with what she's given and I think that fact alone keeps the film from being completely typical. Editing and cinematography should also given credit for lifting this film from average to above average.