Movie Review

Nic Cage overload is a good thing in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Few actors have had the type of roller coaster career that Nicolas Cage has had. His early success in the 1980s led to his Oscar-winning role in Leaving Las Vegas and a string of high-profile action movies in the late ‘90s. But his 21st century roles have been very up-and-down, to the point that it’s difficult to tell whether he’s still one of the biggest stars in the world or a has-been forced to take whatever work he can get.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent uses all of the varied perceptions of Cage in a highly effective comedy. Cage stars as a version of himself who has reached a professional nadir and is somewhat of a joke to both his ex-wife Olivia (Sharon Horgan) and daughter Addy (Lily Mo Sheen). In desperation, he accepts an offer of $1 million to appear at the birthday party of Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal), a wealthy Spaniard.

Once there, however, Cage is approached by Vivan (Tiffany Haddish) and Martin (Ike Barinholtz), two CIA agents who are trying to take down Javi and his family, who lead a drug cartel. The agents convince Cage to be a type of double agent, pretending to be a friend to Javi, who has moviemaking ambitions, while also gathering intelligence, including the whereabouts of the daughter of a prominent Spanish politician who’s been kidnapped.

Directed by Tom Gormican and written by Gormican and Kevin Etten, the film is a laughfest that aims to be both a send-up and homage to Cage’s filmography. The film touches on everything from Con Air to Moonstruck to Guarding Tess to Face/Off to The Wicker Man, all of it done with love tinged with winking nods at his patented over-the-top acting style. Cage has become such an iconic actor over the past 40 years that he’s one of the few that would fit a role such as this so well.

One of the funniest aspects of the film is how self-referential it becomes. As part of his double agent “plan,” Cage tells Javy that he wants to work on a new screenplay with him. From that point on, the brainstorms the characters come up with for their fake movie wind up being the movie the actors are starring in. The filmmakers walk a fine line with this choice, and it pays off in the end.

The only aspect of the film that doesn’t quite work is the inclusion of “Nicky Cage,” a much younger version of Cage that appears next to him in especially stressful situations. The character, who’s there to remind Cage what a great person he is, works fantastically on his first appearance, but with diminishing returns in haphazard appearances throughout the rest of the film. The weirdness of Cage interacting with something only he can see should have either been a much bigger part or scrapped completely; the half-hearted approach is not enough to sell the character.

Some would argue that Nicolas Cage playing himself doesn’t require much acting, but that line of thinking doesn’t understand Cage’s unique genius. He’s not just playing a character; he is the character, and every choice he makes just reinforces the persona he’s built up throughout his career.

Pascal goes a bit against type with his character, who is an unabashed superfan of Cage, and he scores a number of great comedic moments. Neil Patrick Harris has a few fun scenes as Cage’s smarmy but supportive agent. Haddish and Barinholtz do well, although their CIA subplot could have been bolstered a bit more.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a title that’s as overdone as the acting of Cage himself, which makes it that much more memorable. Whether you love him, hate him, or are amused by his eccentricity, there’s no actor like him and this movie proves why.

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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent opens in theaters on April 22.

Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Photo by Katalin Vermes

Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 14 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Duran Duran

Photo by Stephanie Pistel

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Another big weekend across Dallas will feature a wide variety of events. Music lovers will appreciate a piano competition, a three-day festival-style event, and two big concerts. Theater lovers will get three new local productions. Dance lovers have three events from which to choose, including the national tour of an iconic show. Throw in an Oscar winner, a fan event with big celebrities, and a unique visual experience, and this weekend has something for everybody.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, June 8

Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition
Through four rounds of competition, including a final round with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, elite young artists will showcase their virtuosity and touch hearts with their musicality during the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition. There will be two rounds of concerts over four days at Caruth Auditorium on the SMU campus this weekend, followed by the semifinal and final rounds next week. There will also be a free public concert at NorthPark Center on Sunday.

Events with Oscar winner Roger Deakins
One of the most acclaimed cinematographers of all time, Roger Deakins will be in town this weekend for a series of events. On Thursday will be a Byways Book Signing with Roger & James Deakins, at which Deakins and his longtime collaborator and wife, James, will talk about their new book and career, followed by a screening of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Other Deakins films to be screened include Sicario on Friday, No Country for Old Men on Saturday, and Blade Runner 2049 on Sunday, the latter of which will include Q&A with Roger and James Deakins. All events will be at Texas Theatre.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Hubblo Immersive Cinema Dome Experiences
The Hubblo Immersive Cinema Dome uses cutting-edge 360° film technology to create a fully immersive experience. Audiences recline comfortably as 4k films surround them during an hour-long journey of light and sound. There are three different experiences to enjoy, including the Family 360° Film Experience, Music Lovers 360° Film Experience, and Explorer’s 360° Film Experience. The event will take place daily through July 9 at Wyly Theatre.

Broadway Dallas presents Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show
Riverdance's 25th anniversary show is a powerful and stirring reinvention of the beloved favorite, celebrated the world over for its Grammy award‐winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. The ground-breaking show has been completely reimagined with innovative lighting, projection, stage, and costume designs. After playing on Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be one final show on Thursday at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Rover Dramawerks presents Lobby Hero
Jeff is a young security guard trying to get his life together after being thrown out of the navy. But he is drawn into a local murder investigation involving his supervisor, a tightly wound young man called upon to bear witness against his troubled brother, and an overzealous rookie cop who finds she must stand up to her unscrupulous, seasoned partner. Truth becomes elusive and justice proves costly. The production runs through June 24 at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

Kitchen Dog Theater presents 25th Annual New Works Festival
The 25th annual New Works Festival from Kitchen Dog Theater will be headlined by the mainstage production, The Last Truck Stop. The world premiere production centers on a tenacious trucker-turned-truck-stop-owner and her poetic, gun-toting postal carrier, who debate staying or going when their desert town becomes a no-go zone. The production runs through June 25 at Trinity River Arts Center The festival also includes PUP Fest on June 10 at Booker T. Washington High School, and a Staged Reading Series at Trinity River Arts Center (June 17 and 24).

Shakespeare Dallas presents Shakespeare in the Park: Much Ado About Nothing
For some in Much Ado About Nothing, love begins at first sight. For others, love has been forsworn. The war is over. Pedro Prince of Aragon, with his followers Benedick and Claudio, visits Leonato, Duke of Messina, father of Hero and uncle of Beatrice. Claudio who fights for his love for Hero, and Benedick, who has forsworn women until his friends make him believe that he has caught the eye of Lady Beatrice. Much Ado About Nothing will play in repertory with Two Gentlemen of Verona (opening June 14) through July 16 at Samuell-Grand Amphitheater.

Friday, June 9

Fan Expo Dallas
Fan Expo Dallas is the largest sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event in Texas, featuring family-friendly attractions, events, and celebrities. Celebrity guests will includehttps://dallas.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/fan-expo-lampoons-stranger-things/ Zachary Levi from Shazam!; Hayden Christensen from Star Wars; Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Christie Brinkley, and Randy Quaid from National Lampoon's Vacation; Carrie-Anne Moss from The Matrix; Rosario Dawson from Ahsoka; Jon Bernthal from The Punisher; Christina Ricci from Wednesday and Yellowjackets; Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, and other actors from Clerks; and more. The event goes through Sunday at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

AEG presents Re:SET
Re:SET, a fresh take on the multi-artist outdoor concert, is coming to the grounds of Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, featuring headliners boygenius, Steve Lacy and LCD Soundsystem. The concert series creates a unique, localized experience for fans, with each headliner curating the lineup for their respective day. On Thursday, boygenius will be bringing along indie standouts Clairo, Dijon, and Bartees Strange. On Friday, Steve Lacy will feature James Blake, Toro y Moi, and Fousheé. Travelling with LCD Soundsystem on Sunday are Jamie xx, IDLES, Big Freedia, and more.

TITAS / Dance Unbound presents Ballet BC
Bold, innovative, and uniquely great, Ballet British Columbia is an internationally acclaimed Canadian contemporary dance company. The program includes Crystal Pite’s The Statement, as well as Garden by Medhi Walerski and Bedroom Folk by Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar. The performance takes place at Winspear Opera House.

Saturday, June 10

Duran Duran in concert
English new wave band Duran Duran - which was named after a character from the movie Barbarella, of all things - has endured for over 40 years, much longer than most '80s bands. Though their biggest hits - "Hungry Like the Wolf," "A View to a Kill," "Ordinary World" - all come from the '80s and '90s, they have continued to evolve their sound so that they remain relevant amid much younger bands. They'll play at American Airlines Center in support of their 2021 album, Future Past, joined by Bastille and Nile Rodgers & Chic.

Parker McCollum in concert
Country singer and Texas native Parker McCollum has been a fixture on the local festival scene since releasing his debut album in 2015, but in 2021 he skipped over all the smaller venues in the area and went straight to Dos Equis Pavilion. Now playing there for his third year in a row. McCollum is touring in support of his just-released fourth album, Never Enough.

Bruce Wood Dance presents Grace
Bruce Wood Dance will close its 22-23 season with Grace, featuring the world premiere of Ghost by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Ben Needham-Wood. Artistic director Joy Bollinger premieres And Heaven and Nature, a look at the seemingly divine design of planet Earth. The reprise of Bruce Wood’s jazzy blockbuster, Rhapsody in Blue, closes the innovative mixed bill. There will be performances on both Saturday and Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.

Duran Duran

Photo by Stephanie Pistel

Duran Duran will play at American Airlines Center on June 10.

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