Product Details

• Actors: Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Chelcie Ross, Laura Dern, Lynne Thigpen
• Directors: David Atkins
• Writers: David Atkins, Paul Felopulos
• Producers: Daniel M. Rosenberg, Michele Weisler, Paul Mones
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Live / Artisan
• VHS Release Date: September 27, 2002
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000062WX0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,230 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A screwball noir comedy that marks a promising directorial debut by first-timer David Atkins, Novocaine has a knack for the offbeat, beginning with the casting of Steve Martin as Frank, a dentist who traps himself in an escalating series of secrets and lies. Frank likens his dilemma to the insidious rot of tooth decay, personified by quirky drug addict Susan (Helena Bonham Carter), who enters his office, steals his narcotics, and draws him into an unexpected flirtation with disaster. Frank's brother (Elias Koteas) complicates matters almost as much as Susan's psycho brother (Scott Caan), but it's Frank's fiancée and hygienist (Laura Dern) who shotguns the movie to its outrageous and gruesomely off-putting conclusion. Erratic in tone and briefly amusing, Novocaine offers a few surprises (including an unbilled appearance by Kevin Bacon), but the movie never really finds its groove, and its curiously numbing effect makes the title just a bit too apropos. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker

Noir without the lighting. Steve Martin plays a dentist who falls for one of his patients; trouble ensues. All the hardboiled elements are here: the voice-over narration of the good guy gone bad, the femme fatale, the supportive girlfriend, the unavoidable murder. But, as the writer-director David Atkins twists the clichés of the genre, his film becomes a mishmash of numbing comedy and incoherent motivations. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars novocaine will keep you guessing, September 10, 2001

By 

Ron Thibodeau (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Just saw Novocaine at the Boston Film Festival. Steve Martin was there in person to accept the 2001 performance award for his role in the film. What a clever black comedy suspense thriller. Steve Martin stars as a dentist who falls in with Helena Bonham Carter, a young girl who uses the dentist to get her prescriptions for painkillers. Laura Dern is Steve's sexy co-worker/fiancee who doesn't realise that her man is off having sex with a druggie. Along the way, Steve Martin's character becomes embroiled in lies, deceit, and murder. A clever and funny film. Trying to figure out who-dun-it and why was never so much fun. **Kevin Bacon is hilarious in his cameo as Lance Phelps. His best performance in years.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Speaking from a dental perspective..., December 14, 2001

By 

Stephanie Maddox "StephanieRDH" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I am a dental hygienist, although not nearly as obsessive-compulsive and crazy as Laura Dern's Jean Noble. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film!

A local oral surgeon sponsored a private screening for local dentists and their staff members. In other words, the theater was packed with dental professionals. We had a ball! It played very well to our audience, as the movie was technically very good (dentally speaking). Other dental-type movies have left a lot to be desired in that category!

The movie was indeed a comedy, allbeit a dark comedy. It's the kind of humor where you laugh, but with your hand over your mouth to cover up the fact that your humor is a bit deranged. Although, perhaps I am speaking for myself.

Laura Dern, Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, and Kevin Bacon all turn in super performances. It was a fun ride, and the who-done-it guessing game was much fun!

I recommend this movie, especially to the dental community or anyone who is not squeamish!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ODDBALL SUSPENSE COMEDY, WORTH A WATCH, October 19, 2003

By 

Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Novocaine (DVD)

Novocaine is labeled as a dark comedy in the reviews here, a conclusion I don't necessarily see from the film. It is nuanced entertainment, you don't expect anything else from a Steve Martin fare, and it does have its quirky elements. But I'd perhaps call it a murder suspense thriller with wit. Just go with the suspension of disbelief, and enjoy the plot twists as the craziness of the "decay" takes its hold. Recommended!