I find it strange when movie stars portray fictionalized versions of themselves; thankfully it doesn’t happen very often.  When it does, the results can be spectacularly weird and flamboyant (Being John Malkovich for one, this for another).  I can report that Nicolas Cage does an admirable job of portraying himself, as well as his younger self; if he did not then this would truly be one weird movie.

Tom Gormican’s parable follows Nick Cage (Nicholas Cage) to Mallorca, Spain, to meet his biggest fan, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal), and to be paid very well for the honor.  Well, then the CIA becomes involved because Javi fronts a notorious criminal organization, and Cage’s family — estranged wife Olivia (Sharon Horgan) and daughter Addy (Lily Mo Sheen) — find themselves involved as well, with Nick having to act his way out of trouble.

While there are plenty of in-jokes and Cage career references (although, oddly, nothing about Leaving Las Vegas or Honeymoon in Vegas that I noted), the biggest irony takes place as the fictional story moves from character-driven interaction to kidnappings, car chases, shootouts and other manner of Hollywood bombast, just the things that Javi and Nick wish to avoid in the screenplay they are writing together.  It gets pretty silly, although like a lot of bad comic action movies other characters perish in violent ways just to make the story more dramatic.

Big fans of Nicolas Cage, if there are any, will enjoy this narcissistic adventure rather more than I did, but I thought it was okay.  Certainly his portrayal of an actor struggling to stay in the top tier of the profession rings true.  Yet the best performance is given by Pedro Pascal, who conveys a genuine sense of respect and love for his costar.  I suppose if someone is going to play a fictional version of oneself, this kind of story, silly as it is, might be the most palatable option.  ☆ ☆ 1/2.  21 February 2023.