SUBMITTED BY katystarlet

November 14, 2001 — A strong dark comedy needs to be sinister, wicked and alive with the possibilities for more macabre turns around any corner. Yet the new film "Novocaine" has got it all backwards. It’s trying to be funny when it should horrify, and it’s painfully dull when it should be engrossing. And whatever it ends up becoming in the end, entertaining certainly isn’t one of its characteristic. Speaking of the title drug, it would’ve been nice to have a shot of it before sitting through this painfully lethargic black comedy.

Steve Martin stars as Dr. Frank. A successful dentist with a thriving practice, Dr. Frank sustains a love affair with his hygienist (Laura Dern) who doesn’t want people to know they’re carrying on. When a sexy young lady named Susan (Helena Bonham Carter) comes into the office one day complaining of toothaches, Dr. Frank is immediately smitten with the woman. After being seduced by Susan, Dr. Frank soon learns that she has been stealing his dental drugs. Dr. Frank tries to find out the reason behind the treachery, but soon runs up against Susan’s brother (Scott Caan) and some interested federal agents. As Dr. Frank gets caught up in his own web of lies and crimes, he finds that the only way to get himself out of trouble is to break the law and find out just who is really behind the crumbling of his professional and personal life.

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