The unbearable weight of massive talent

Nicolas Cage (Nicolas Cage) is a famous actor facing a divorce, albeit fairly amicable, enormous hotel bill as he's been living there for months and finds himself being passed over for roles when he's always defined himself by his work.

To clear his debts he agrees to go to the birthday party of billionaire superfan Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal), for which he'll be paid $1m.

The two initially interact awkwardly then bond drunkenly over a screening of Paddington 2. Yes really, and develop a semi-bromance.

Then he finds out Javi isn't who he says he is...

CW: nothing of note, this is goofball comedy

This action comedy is the most meta of meta things.

Cage plays a fictionalised version of himself, who argues with a younger leather jacket wearing wildman version of himself about stuff that the real Cage could be accused of. Likewise his fictional therapist is a bit close to the mark.

The story slowly morphs into a 90s Nic Cage movie internally and externally as a movie within a movie while also taking elements straight out of those movies, which exist in the movie.

He's Nic Cage but also a high profile civilian brought into a CIA operation where shenanigans ensue and also the star of the movie of the story.

I was a bit fed up tonight and it was exactly what I needed. Recommended 8/10. I laughed a good amount. Cage and Pascal are good together but also Sharon Horgan is excellent as his long suffering ex-wife despite not being on screen much.