The 2024 cousin comedy A Real Pain gives us a great buddy act, where Kieran Culkin takes the little golden prize. AKA; the Oscar. Although, to be fair, Culkin has gotten quite a few gongs for his portrayal as that family member “gone wrong.” In the film though, despite his foibles as a cousin and as a person he is, as his cousin; played by Jesse Eisenberg, says, “Charming.”
The story
In A Real Pain Benji and David Kaplan take a trip to Poland. The land where their grandmother was born. The two have never been there and after she dies the old girl leaves them money for a fact finding trip. They decide not to refuse the posthumous offer.
They are, afterall, on a journey to discover their very Jewish roots. More than that, it is a chance to rediscover their childhood friendship. Their compatriots on this personal quest are also in search of their familial past.
The Cast
Kieran Culkin is Benji.
Jesse Eisenberg is David.
Jennifer Grey is Marcia.
Banner Eisenberg is Abe.
Jakub Gasowski is the receptionist.
Will Sharpe is James.
Daniel Oreskes is Mark.
Kurt Egyiawan is Eloge.
behind the camera
Jesse Eisenberg writes and directs A Real Pain. Michal Dymek is cinematographer and Robert Nassau is editor. These two perform their own buddy act and they act in tandem to make the film look both cosy and almost epic.
Everyone behind the camera work to make this feel believable and true. To the extent that it almost feels like a documentary. Kudos to all those who worked so hard that it shows.
It works
A Real Pain works. We have some stereotypes thrown in for good measure. The “Jewish Princess” having a mid-life crisis, for example. The Jewish husband who is reluctantly along for the ride and the British “know all” tour guide. (All that is missing is the ubiquitous umbrella.)
Regardless of this mix of stereotypical passengers, we feel the burden of their discoveries. The WWII death camp is a major eye opener for everyone and it serves as a testament to the Jewish race and its resilience.
Benji’s fellow travelers also learn more about him. Perhaps more than they need to. But David, the “normal” cousin feels they, and consequently, we as the audience need to know what he is about. It does help explain a lot.
The Verdict
A Real Pain is a solid 4 star film. One made from the heart of Jesse Eisenberg. It feels like a labour of love and the care he has put into the script shows. The film works well enough that it got Culkin the Oscar. This is a lowkey warm comedy that hits all the right chords. The film is available on Amazon Prime and is currently streaming on Hulu.
The Trailer
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