A Real Pain Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Jesse Eisenberg’s second directorial project is a true dramedy. A road trip flick that explores anxiety & depression, while exploring the horrors of the Holocaust.

Genre: Comedy / Drama 

Director: Jesse Eisenberg

Cast: Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Will Sharpe, Liza Sadovy & Daniel Oreskes.

Run Time: 90 min.

US Release: 01 November 2024

UK Release: 08 January 2025

German Release: 16 January 2025

This movie would have flown past me if not for the Academy Awards nominations. I hadn’t seen one trailer for it, I didn’t read anything about it online, it was as if this movie didn’t exist, before it was announced as a nominee. Granted, I had a tumultuous year behind me, and I was possibly not paying much attention. That said, I am glad to have heard about it just in time, because it gave me the opportunity to see one of the most unique comedic dramas. So, let’s get rolling with my review for A Real Pain. 

Mismatched cousins David plus Benji reunite after a longer period, for a tour through Poland, in honour of their late grandmother. When things don’t go as planned, old animosities resurface against the backdrop of their tragic family history. 

Eisenberg developed the idea for A Real Pain after writing the short story “Magnolia”, in which two college friends, similarly ill-assorted as the main characters in the film, travel through East Asia in search of enlightenment, only to find themselves in an ecotourism centre. Struggling to finish his screenplay, he was ready to scrap it when he came upon an online ad for a tour of the Auschwitz concentration camp, including complimentary lunch. The advert baffled him so much, he incorporated it into the script. 

On the surface, the story seems like a typical satire promoting the odd-couple trope. However, once the plot unfolds, deeper subjects bubble up in an explosion of emotional instability. For one, it takes its two protagonists and turns the trip into a character piece, exploring the two contradicting personalities. Topics of mental health become the front and centre, as it is displayed during weird, quirky scenarios, without ever feeling disrespectful. In fact, the script takes those aspects surprisingly seriously, as it touches upon them carefully. 

In the meantime, it also reflects on cultural legacy plus generational trauma, as the background is set during a Polish-Jewish heritage tour. It emphasises the cousins' polarities even more, as each one copes with what they experience differently, culminating in a satisfying third-act turning point. In a nutshell, the narrative is an oxymoron in itself, as it feels unconventional, yet authentic.

More than anything, this is a dialogue-heavy picture. The plot is driven by what is said, or rather not said at times. David is a shy introvert, keeping mostly quiet to himself. Benji, on the other hand, bursts with ecstatic energy, yet everything he verbally expresses feels like a backhanded compliment. 

Though this indie feature contains a few supporting characters that are fleshed out enough to make them feel real, they ultimately serve the purpose of reaching the bubbling collision between the two leads. Praise deserves to be given to Jennifer Grey, just like Kurt Egyiawan, for their performances.

Kieran Culkin steals the whole show as Benji Kaplan, David’s cousin. He portrays the character with a raw intensity, leaving audiences baffled as to what might be wrong. The more time passes, the more layers are shed by Culkin, revealing a highly vulnerable, as well as depressed person, hiding behind all those euphoric outbursts. I would go so far as to say that Benji is a covert narcissist, struggling with bipolar tendencies, which would explain all those backhanded comments.

Jesse Eisenberg plays David Kaplan, who is on the complete opposite spectrum of Benji, absorbing much of his energy by being his emotional punching bag. Eisenberg originally wanted to play the role of Benji, though the producers recommended that he take a more down-to-earth part, given his parallel directing duties. Although David is more low-key, he is the true anchor of the film, holding everything together. Ironically, it is also a perfect representation of his persona; the glue that keeps everything in check, whilst simultaneously needing to combat his anxiety. 

Cinematographically, A Real Pain is simplistic, yet powerful. Its inertia keeps the pace flowing steadily, using a fitting amount of montages plus jump cuts. It also uses inconspicuous techniques as metaphors for what is happening narratively. One example is how the movie begins and ends the same, as the camera pans around an airport to find Culkin amid a crowd on both occasions, coming full circle. 

Director of photography Michał Dymek is a Warsaw native who used his knowledge of his country's historical events, to create accurate montages to depict Poland's beauty. Strong, warm colours are used throughout its runtime, contrasting with the usual bleak depiction of Poland in American films. The only exception is the sterile, cold grey palette, used for the airport segments. 

The sound effects use suave shifts in tone, enhancing the general atmosphere. Use of silence is paired with scenes of past historic traumas, paying respect to those places. The score makes use of Frédéric Chopin’s compositions, underlining the location. 

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Verdict: Jesse Eisenberg’s second directorial release is a heart-wrenching dramedy, deserving of all the praise. Juxtaposing absurdity and rooted emotional hurt, this indie flick begins as an odd-couple comedy, revealing more ímpactful layers, as it moves forward. The crisp ninety-minute runtime keeps the storyline focused, as it reveals its true motive to lie in the explorations of anxiety, as well as depression, against the backdrop of generational trauma. Kieran Culkin is the wildcard of this picture, absolutely deserving of his Oscar win, though Eisenberg himself is not to be underestimated as the quieter, more reserved David. The cinematography matches the atmosphere, using simple techniques to drive the message home. A Real Pain is a comedic-drama utterly deserving of an 8.5 out of 10.

Give this feature a chance if you haven’t yet! What was your experience watching this powerhouse of a dramedy? Or is it still on your watchlist? Do you agree with my evaluation? Thank you very much for reading.