The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent -

However, the CIA recruits Cage, revealing that Javi is actually the head of a powerful arms cartel and has kidnapped the daughter of a Spanish politician. Cage agrees to spy on Javi, leading to an unlikely friendship. As the two bond over movies (including a script Javi wrote for Cage), Cage becomes conflicted: Javi seems genuine and kind, not like a criminal.

The film succeeds because it loves its subject unconditionally. It does not mock Nicolas Cage; it mocks the idea of Nicolas Cage that exists in the public imagination. It separates the man from the myth and finds that the man—sad, broke, desperate to be loved—is far more interesting than the meme. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

The violence is stylized but not gory; it is kinetic but grounded in character. When Nick finally gets his hands on a gun, he mutters to Javi, "I’m going to take a Castor Troy moment here," referencing his villain from Face/Off . For the die-hard fan, these callbacks are ecstasy. For the casual viewer, they are simply cool moves in a fun car chase. However, the CIA recruits Cage, revealing that Javi

Javi is not a villain; he is the ultimate fan. He has a shrine to Face/Off . He has written a screenplay titled The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent , a meta action-drama about a "Nic Cage-type character." When Nick arrives, expecting a criminal mastermind, he finds a lonely, wealthy man who simply wants to be friends with his hero. The film succeeds because it loves its subject