“I love him, and I hate him, and I want to be him.” Jesse Eisenberg’s 2024 film, “A Real Pain” follows cousins Benji and David, portrayed by Kernan Culkin and Eisenberg, as they travel to Poland following the loss of their grandmother to be able to learn more about her and her history. Eisenberg not only stars in this film, but he also directed and wrote it. The movie’s story was moving, but maybe Eisenberg should have stuck with one job on this project.
The film highlights the Jewish struggle during the time of WWII, showing it through the future generations of the survivors of these horrific events. Eisenberg’s script was tight, tying the movie in at 90 minutes. It included comedic and as well as moving moments but did gloss over some important scenes between the two main characters. With an extra 20 minutes of writing focusing on their relationship, I believe Eisenberg could have patched up these holes and explored the effects of grief more deeply.
Eisenberg’s directing was beautiful. His shots highlighted the beauty of Poland and maintained a warm color palette that enhanced the trip for the viewers experiencing it along with the characters.
The characters of Benji and David were intriguingly placed next to each other in this film. They contrasted each other in ways that challenged their relationship. David’s contentness was always outshined by Benji’s boldness, while Benji’s transparency always embarrassed David. From their first interaction on screen, I was absorbed into their dynamic and didn’t want to stop watching until the movie’s end. Eisenberg’s writing of these two definitely demonstrated the strongest suit of this film.
Eisenberg’s acting as David was nothing incredible, but it didn’t have to be. He played a bland, uncomfortable-in-his-own-skin guy. His performance may not have been groundbreaking, but it brought authenticity to the character.
Don’t get me wrong, Clukin’s performance was phenomenal. It was moving, it was comical, and it was awkward. His character took us on many journeys and made us attracted to him more and more after every scene. But I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching Roman Roy on the screen at times. Of course, I am referencing Culkin’s award-winning role from “Succession.” Benji’s excessive use of the f-bomb and vibrant facial expressions brought me right back to the Waystar Royco offices. This technique did add to the character of Benji, but do I think Culkin deserved the Golden Globe and potentially the Oscar over other roles – especially over Yura Borisov in “Anora” – no, I don’t.
As the credits began to roll, I felt unsatisfied. We didn’t see much growth in either character as much as we had learned more about them by the end of the movie. Sections of the cousin’s story felt missing in the movie’s script. It’s been years since they have seen each other, they couldn’t have bonded and aired out all of their dirty laundry in the scenes we had seen.
I believe this could have been avoided with more screen time for the other characters. Yes, it was the cousins’ movie, but these other characters could have had so much more prominence in the script. Each had come from different backgrounds and walks of life, and all of them were brought together due to their passion and connection to the Jewish experience. Viewers could have learned so much more about Benji’s characters through more connections made between him and the other characters and their individual stories. Maybe they could have made him realize aspects of his own life that he seemingly forgot the beauty of, as we come to realize Benji’s story is a dark one.
Overall, “A Real Pain” wasn’t the worst. It demonstrated important themes of struggle through different people and generations. Pain is inevitable in this lifetime, but what truly matters is your response to it when the time comes.
