Movie Review: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

There are movies before Being John Malkovich, and there are movies after Being John Malkovich. It sets the standard for celebrities playing heightened versions of themselves. Once of those post-Malkocivh movies is the criminally underrated JCVD.

In JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Jean-Claude Van Damme. He's an ageing movie star, dealing with a fading career, money problems, and divorce. Unexpectedly, he's caught in a criminal plot where he has to live up to his reputation as an action star. At one point, he breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience about the nature of reality.

JCVD is a truly excellent film. So it is no surprise that it has been lovingly ripped-off remade as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with Nicolas Cage playing Jean-Claude Van Damme himself.

Nicolas Cage plays an ageing movie star, dealing with a fading career, money problems, and divorce. Unexpectedly, he's caught in a criminal plot where he has to live up to his reputation as an action star. At one point, he breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience about the nature of reality.

It is an excellent movie. Funny, dramatic, sweet. Nicolas Cage is great at playing himself. There's nothing particularly surprising or interesting about the movie - but you'll have a lot of fun watching it.