Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg delivers an engaging dialogue-driven film for his sophomore directorial effort, "A Real Pain," from Searchlight Pictures. Eisenberg also pens the film's screenplay and leads the film's cast. David (Eisenberg) and Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) are two American Jewish cousins who have reunited for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved late grandmother.
The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Along the way, the duo makes friends with tour guide James (Will Sharpe) and fellow tourgoers Marsha (Jennifer Grey), Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), Mark (Daniel Oreskes), and his wife Diane (Liza Sadovy). The cousins also hope to mend old wounds and discover what caused them to drift apart.
I've been a fan of Mr. Eisenberg since he broke through in Fox's 1999 series "Get Real," it's been a pleasure to watch the director find his footing in all facets of entertainment. The opening frames of his latest directorial venture open with Eisenberg's usual quirks, but the film becomes special when Kieran Culkin enters the picture.
The Emmy winner turns in a performance that could have focused one-liners into something elevated.
In a subdued manner, "A Real Pain" lets the audience know that David and Benji both deal with mental and emotional pain, each with their unique ways of dealing with it. David attends therapy and categorizes all emotions, sensations, and feelings as disposable and inconsequential. That view reaches its apotheosis when he states, "My suffering is no different from any other person's." In this radical absence of individuality lies his salvific salvation and the illusion of control.
On the other hand, Benji is solely concerned with himself and others' suffering, magnifying it because he feels it is unique, essential, and worthy of celebration. He is in a compelling position to describe this pain, to declare it as the most critical part of his life at the moment when he feels it is time to speak.
Both actors have the opportunity to excel in their respective roles and demonstrate practical chemistry with one another, which underscores Jesse Eisenberg's skill as a writer. The film appears to have initially been conceived as a two-character play, though Eisenberg expanded its scope to include additional elements. While the narrative primarily centers on Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, the supporting cast has limited development. Nonetheless, the supporting actors present relatable characters in their concise roles, and it is a pleasure to see Jennifer Grey on screen once again.
Clocking in at a brisk ninety minutes, "A Real Pain" is a mature buddy comedy that hits all the right emotional beats.
Final Grade: A-
"A Real Pain" is in theaters now