Nicolas Cage plays himself, with a fictionalized family and failing career. When he loses a big potential role, he accepts $1 million to be the guest at a birthday party for a superfan (Pedro Pascal). Meanwhile, he gets recruited by the CIA to help bring down this notorious gangster who’s masterminded a kidnapping. What starts as a self-satire turns into an action film. The comic potential in the situation is hopeful, but the funny never materializes. Ditto for any excitement on the adventure side. Cage certainly embraces a chance to go over the top, but that’s his thing, so nothing new here. Otherwise, it’s a rather bland attempt at satire, both of Cage and the action genre. 
(3 / 5)
