Jessie Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin give unforgettable performances in this deeply emotional story. This one is out now digitally, and available on Blu-ray on 2/4/25.
“From Searchlight Pictures comes “A Real Pain,” written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Mismatched cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. “A Real Pain” also features Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy and Daniel Oreskes.”
Jessie Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, two actors with very different styles and on-screen personalities, however, after seeing the initial trailer for A Real Pain, I couldn’t wait to see them together, as their pairing seemed to be the perfect balance to play brilliantly off of each other in such a way as to tell an engaging story filled with emotion on all levels of the spectrum.
The film follows the pair of cousins who’ve fallen out of touch after being close when they were younger. After the death of their grandmother whom each adored, they travel to Poland, her home country, in which she survived the atrocities of the concrentration camps in World War II. Taking this guided tour with a small group of other people from different parts of the world who are there seeking their own emotional journey, David and Benji reconnect with one another while navigating the grief of their loss amongst a backdrop of the genecide of their ancestors.
To say that this is an emotional film would be an understatement. As much as Jesse Eisenberg’s singular acting style can get tiresome, his achievement with A Real Pain, writing, directing and starring in it gives me an entirely new respect for him on so many levels. It’s a poignant story that’s both hilarious and heartbreaking, and his writing of both of these characters and their relationship is what makes this work on so many different levels. His own character, David, I’m sure is easily mainly autobiographical, especially after hearing him speak about the film prior to my viewing. Despite him seeming to have his life together compared to Benji, he does not have the self-confidence that his cousin does, or the ability to make the same impression on people when they meet him. More than anything, he wants to be seen, and he’d seemingly trade his neatly coordinated life to find that.
Benji, on the other hand, is a mess. With no ambition or plan for his future, he lets his emotions navigate his life without much thought to the consequences. Despite being the envy of his cousin, he has some dark secrets that paint an even more troubled history. This film would not be the same without these two characters and their multi-layered personalities and relationship, all masterfully portrayed by Eisenberg in his writing, and by both in their acting abilities.
With Kieran Culkin winning the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Male Actor last night, this one is a must-see.
We were given a digital code to review for this film, which is available now digitally and will be available on Blu-ray on Febuary 4th.