‘Dream Scenario’ Review: Nicolas Cage Hits The Heights Of Comedy In A Hysterical Role Like No Other In His Career – Toronto Film Festival

deadline.com:

Nicolas Cage, after more than 100 credits, finally has his dream role, at least as comedy fans are concerned. He knocks it out of the park as a schlubby balding college professor who suddenly starts appearing in people’s dreams, first his daughter’s, then an old girlfriend’s, and soon millions of people around the globe are seeing this ordinary looking, very plain guy walking throught their slumber in rather non-descript ways no matter what the situation.

He becomes a phenomenon, until it reverses and the whole thing turns into a literal nightmare. This is the inspired comic premise of Dream Scenario, perhaps the most ingenious screen idea Woody Allen never had, although it might have been interesting if he did (think a twisted Zelig), but this one comes from the mind of Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli whose main claim to fame before this film which had its World Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this weekend, was 2022 Cannes Un Certain Regard entry Sick Of Myself.But Dream Scenario marks his English language debut, and on the basis of this character-driven deadpan, flat out hilarious film he could be the answer to the question: who is the world’s next great comedy filmmaking talent?

In addition to writing and directing the movie he also serves as his own film editor which could be a reason the comedic rhythms of this movie are pitch perfect brilliant.

Cage, a riot as this affable unremarkable everyman who suddenly gets his 15 minutes of fame, is clearly right in sync with what his director had in mind, even adjusting his voice for maximum effect as well as his well known looks.