In his sophomore feature as a director, Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg delivers an appropriate film for the Thanksgiving holiday. “A Real Pain” was a hit and an award contender right out of the gate at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The little scrappy film, ultimately about family, might have gotten lost in the noise of wicked witches and gladiators, yet it’s one of the best films in cinemas right now. With a biting script by Eisenberg, “A Real Pain” is impressively lean, never wasting a second of its modest running time. It simultaneously delivers well-earned laughs and sarcasm in the first half, transitioning quite miraculously to an emotional drama towards the conclusion.
Cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Eisenberg) reunite in New York for their trip to Poland. The two recently lost their grandmother, a holocaust survivor, and per her wishes, are traveling to her homeland. Benji and David couldn’t differ more, one a family man, stable job, living the mundane American dream. The other is the guy who never outgrew adolescence. Benji has taken the passing of his grandmother very hard, “she was my favorite person in this world.” As the guys join the small tour visiting emotional landmarks, their reactions, like their personalities, are very different. David is frustrated and constantly apologizing for his cousin’s behavior.
"Despite some of the funnier and sad moments, 'A Real Pain' has an underlying theme of thankfulness."
There is a moment in the film where the cousins realize that only by a twist of fate are they American and not Polish as they stroll their grandmother’s old neighborhood. Despite some of the funnier and sad moments, “A Real Pain” has an underlying theme of thankfulness. Thankful for those who endured, thankful for stability and family. Eisenberg (“The Social Network,” “Zombieland”) has typically played various facets of his own personality on screen throughout his career. He does so again as David, but it’s more emotional here. He still exhibits nervousness and compulsions, but how he supports his struggling cousin, even in frustration, is quite powerful. His script is more potent than his direction, which is minimal and ideal for this sort of film. It’s easily his best work to date, on and off-screen.
Culkin is on a “Helen Hunt trajectory,” hot off his hit show “Succession,” where he has won every accolade on the television side for his performance and now looks poised to win an Oscar for his work here. Benji could have just been comic relief or the obnoxious, pot-smoking road trip character, but what Culkin achieves here is sad eyes behind the laughter. He goes beyond scene-stealing, even during moments when his character isn’t the focus. Benji has a manic energy that’s equal parts infectious and cringeworthy. Eisenberg might be the lead, writer, and director, but Culkin runs away with the film. “A Real Pain” is that rare film that’s entertaining, thought-provoking, educational, and, ultimately, unforgettable.
Final Thought
“A Real Pain” is a real winner. It’s clever, funny, and moving.