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Director David Atkins makes his feature film debut with this crime thriller, filled with lust, betrayal, and dental instruments. Atkins had to look no further than his own family while researching “Novocaine.” Inspired by his father and two brothers who are dentists, Atkins wanted for years to make a film featuring a dentist as the central character. Atkins explains, “Growing up I was intrigued by phone calls that would always come around dinner time. My mother would get upset and I didn't know why. I discovered later that, more often than not, people would be trying to scam my father for drugs. I always thought that was a compelling scenario.”

It may be possible that Steve Martin has an unconscious desire to put aside acting and become a dentist. As Dr. Frank Sangster, Martin dons the white smock again, though this time around his character isn't a demented sadist a la “Little Shop of Horrors.” This dentist's character flaw lies more in his dissatisfaction with his sterile, regimented personal life. Tossing aside his carefully mapped out future with fiancé Jean (Laura Dern), he leaps into a raw sexual encounter with a drug-addicted patient (Helena Bonham-Carter). His new patient, wanting nothing more than a supplier of drugs, worms her way into his psyche, creating chaos in Dr. Sangster's meticulously ordered universe. As Sangster creates cover-up stories to explain his whereabouts to Jean, and the whereabouts of his missing drugs to DEA agents, he finds himself weaving more elaborate lies with no means of escaping the trap he's set for himself.

The plot twists and turns, yanking character's out of their stereotyped selves - which is normally a good thing. However, believability doesn't seem to be the aim of “Novocaine.” It's tough to swallow the impeccably groomed, upstanding citizen Dr. Sangster's immediate attraction to the freaky, drugged-out, Susan. The sexual attraction is understandable, but the almost instantaneous flinging aside of his committed relationship with his beautiful, intelligent dental hygienist fiancé, Jean, doesn't strike a convincing note. There are many twists to the plot that do provide suspenseful entertainment, but the film just doesn't hold true to its potential. Too often the character's actions and reactions seemed artificial. The bright spot is the acting itself. Steve Martin, Helena Bonham-Carter and Laura Dern are terrific, rising well above the script and delivering convincing performances.

"Novocaine" is rated R for violence, sexuality, language and drug content. An additional word of warning - "Novocaine" depicts graphic dental scenes that will leave the bravest patient flinching in pain.

Overall Grade: D


Director: David Atkins
Producers: Paul Mones and Daniel M. Rosenberg
Executive Producer: Michele Weisler
Screenplay: David Atkins
Director of Photography: Vilk Filac
Film Editor: Melody London
Production Designer: Sharon Seymour
Score: Steve Bartek
Theme: Danny Elfman
Costume Designer: Denise Wingate
Casting By: Mary Colquhoun

Dr. Frank Sangster - Steve Martin
Jean Noble - Laura Dern
Susan - Helena Bonham Carter
Harlan Sangster - Elias Koteas
Duane - Scott Caan
Harris - James Chisem
Sally - Polly Noonan
Pat - Lynne Thigpen
Detective Lunt - Keith David
Detective Lily Pons - Karol Kent

Photo © 2001 Artisan Entertainment, Inc. Photo by Mark Fellman. All Rights Reserved.