Jesse Eisenberg (left) and Kieran Culkin star as cousins David and Benji in A Real Pain, an understated comedy-drama that stands out for its minimalism, evading any ostentatious detail to leave a long-lasting imprint. Photo: Supplied.
Rarely does a film create a fine equilibrium between drama and comedy to the point where the two are so interwoven that they begin to coalesce. A Real Pain is an exception to that statute.
Extraordinary dramas make you laugh. Exceptional comedies are meant to be emotive. They make you feel that special affinity with a tightly knit story about families, trauma and history.
Pleasantly capricious, A Real Pain is an inconspicuous comedy-drama that attains the picture-perfect balance between genuine character moments and bursts of loud and hearty laughter!
This is Jesse Eisenberg’s second film as a writer and director, after the 2022 release of When You Finish Saving the World. He also stars in the 2024 film, which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The story follows incompatible Kaplan cousins David (Eisenberg, The Social Network, To Rome with Love, Cafe Society) and Benji (Kieran Culkin, Igby Goes Down, Home Alone, The Mighty), who reunite for a tour through Poland to honour their beloved grandmother, a Polish Holocaust refugee. The adventure takes a turn when the pair’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
Though close once, the two with disparate lives have drifted apart. David is married to Priya (Ellora Torchia), and has a child and a successful career. He’s established in his tech career, intent on his day-to-day routine, is serious and has it all together.
On the other hand, there’s nothing much going on with Benji, an emotional man, wandering from one odd job to another, grappling to make ends meet. He is apparently carefree, and happy-go-lucky, having spent a large part of his adult life crashed in the basement of his mother’s house.
Regardless of their differences, the cousins share a strong connection, bonded by their age and common experiences. Taking a break from their busy lives, they join a Jewish heritage tour, accompanied by fellow travellers Marcia (Jennifer Grey), Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan) and married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy).
Their tour guide, James (Will Sharpe), is a passionate history student who brings the past to life with his knowledge. Together, they navigate the journey, facing personal discord and historical deliberations.
As the two explore Poland with a Holocaust tour group, Benji’s social harshness and strong sentiments both disconcert and commend him to David and the group.
As an almost-brother, Eisenberg is a suitable double act for someone who wants to be Benji and hates him, all the while realising that what they share could so easily disappear. Culkin is astonishing as the guy who can sweep this group of different ages and backgrounds off their feet, even as his uncomplicated charm scarcely hushes the questions that preoccupy him.
Another sturdy aspect of the film is the screenplay by Eisenberg: it’s a movie driven by incisive, amusing and impactful dialogue — often witty and dejected simultaneously. Here is a genuine dramedy, with unbelievable gags and earnest emotion.
Culkin’s role as a free-spirited drifter in A Real Pain has earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Jesse and Kieran are just splendid together. Their repartee feels natural. What’s so wonderful about this movie is how it uses humour to delve deeper into more eloquent areas. It is about the stealth with which special comical moments bring out those instances of correlation and susceptibility between the characters.
Eisenberg’s smart script contains fresh, hard-hitting emotional beats that do not feel forced. Having the Polish backdrop as well adds both appeal and depth to the story, delivering multifaceted family dynamics against the backdrop of past tragedy. Even though the Holocaust remains a central theme, the director’s deft handling delivers a surprisingly poignant, rich experience.
The film finely balances comedy and sadness with extraordinary subtlety, inventing a tale that is touching, with cynical comicality. Captivating, though self-effacing, A Real Pain is one comedy-drama that stands out with concealed profundity and plenty of heart!
A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, is streaming on digital platforms.
