Review: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent 4K UHD
Digital, Steelbook, 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
Nicolas Cage plays… Nick Cage…AND young Nicky!
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent melds action, comedy, drama and so much more in a wild ride where a fictionalised version of Cage (played by Nicolas Cage) accepts a million-dollar offer to attend the birthday of dangerous superfan Javi (Pedro Pascal).
As if that wasn’t weird enough, Cage is then recruited by CIA operative Vivian (Tiffany Haddish) to uncover information on Javi who is on the CIA wanted listed.
Using his acting skills he channels his most iconic and beloved characters to become a real-life action hero and try to save the day.
If you’ve ever wanted to watch present day Nic Cage French kiss his younger self, then you’re wish has come true, as this is just one of the many weird and wonderful situations that arises as the fictional Cage deals with being an actor suddenly finding himself in the middle of a situation straight out of an action movie.
Cage is his usual highly watchable self, sometimes neurotic (especially in a hilarious drug taking scene), sometimes crazy and unleashing the legendary “Cage rage”, and sometimes channelling his action characters of Cameron Poe (Con Air) and Castor Troy (Face/Off), complete with the twin golden guns that Javi has tucked away in his “Nic Cage shrine”.
Pedro Pascal is perfect as superfan Javi, not only complementing Cage’s multiple personality changes with a calm and measured performance, but also because Pascal is a real life Nic Cage fan and was genuinely excited to be in a movie with him.
The movie often switches gears throughout its narrative, seamlessly moving from slapstick to action, before dipping its toes into family drama, where Nic tries to balance his family life with his wife and daughter while at the same time contemplating whether he should continue being an actor.
The 4K UHD disc looks beautiful with a crisp and clear picture and colours that pop off the screen, accentuating the warm colours of its Croatian filming locations. While the blacks are deep and crisp, with no murkiness or loss of detail in the shadows. Individual hairs and skin pores are clear, with skin tones looking natural as the clearly defined beads of sweat run down faces under the hot sun.
The dialogue track is clear, and when the action kicks in the surround sound speakers get a good workout, all accompanied with some rumbling low end bass.
The special features are entertaining and informative, with a special shoutout to a variety of kids auditioning to be Nic Cage.
A fun and entertaining movie that looks and sounds superb, while also having great special features…an essential for your collection.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is on digital 8th July and on SteelBook, 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD 11th July.
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Lionsgate via Alternate Current.