49/44
Benji Kaplan: This, folks, is what filmmaking is all about
Tale
Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a trip to Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a different turn when the odd couple’s old tensions resurface in the context of their family history. When Benji and David visit their grandmother’s home in Poland, it turns out to be the location where Jesse Eisenberg’s real-life ancestors settled in the diaspora. Referenced in Amanda the Jedi Show: The BEST and Weirdest Movies You (Mostly) Haven’t Seen Yet | Love Lies Bleeding (2024).
But Culkin is just plain annoying
(Watched at a preview in Bristol as part of the London Film Festival) I had high hopes for “A Real Pain,” but despite a handful of funny moments and emotional speeches, there are simply too many areas where it misses the mark. The biggest bright spot is Jesse Eisenberg himself. The writer/director anchors the film as the awkward but successful New Yorker David, who invites his cousin Benji (Kieran Culkin) on a trip to Poland to pay tribute to his grandmother and reflect on his personal struggles. Eisenberg is believable and likable, and he’s at the center of the best scenes.
The role would have been much stronger had he been played straight
It’s an energetic performance, no doubt, but his volatility and inability to read a situation means he’s the kind of person you’d try to walk away from within minutes of meeting him. It’s hard to believe he becomes the star attraction of the tour group. Will Sharpe is also very weak as the tour guide, putting on an effeminate Yorkshire accent for comedic effect—maybe American ears won’t be too bothered by this, but these British ears were sorely disappointed. The other cast members have small roles, but Jennifer Grey (yes, THE Jennifer Grey) and Kurt Egyiawan stand out, adding authenticity to their characters.
Situations develop, or are implied, without any obvious cause or resolution
Aside from the variable performances, there’s a general sense that the scenes were improvised and worked up as they went along. For a drama to succeed — and this is a drama at heart — there needs to be a tension in the script and story development that “A Real Pain” lacks. Any momentum that builds up is easily lost — I was looking at my watch after half an hour, and the film feels long, even though it’s less than 90 minutes. Oh, and there are moments when it feels like a promotion for the Polish tourist board — don’t get me wrong, it made me want to visit, I just don’t think that’s the role of a feature film.
A missed opportunity
“A Real Pain” suggests it has something important to say about grief, but it never finds the right words. See the full schedule for the 62nd New York Film Festival this fall.
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