Novocaine

[Bumbaz]

Just bought this movie a few days ago and watched it last night. It stars Steve Martin as Dentist Frank Sangster who has a lucruitive practice with his dental hygenist / fiance` Jean (played by Laura Dern). His drug and alcohol abusive brother Harlan (Elias Koteas) shows up at his house one night. Frank's life is going well until that day when he also runs into Susan Ivey (Helena Bonham Carter) who Frank can see right through is just a drug addict trying to get drugs from him. She does walk away with a prescription for 5 demoral however for her upcomming root canal, but 5 magically turns into 50. When Frank is questioned about that he goes along with Susan instead of telling the truth. From that little white lie his life begins to start its downward spiral. What started with a small lie ends up getting the DEA and local police involved and along pops up a dead body and cameo.

I thought the direction was great, and there were just enough laughs to register this movie as a black comedy. There was also an effective metaphore between teeth/decay vs life throughout the movie in the narration of Frank retelling his story. It wasn't the best thing out there, but it was an interesting story with interesting characters. Just don't go in expecting to revist Steve Martin's dentist from Little Shop of Horrers.