Kieran Culkin’s character in “A Real Pain” can light up a room.
Just ask his cousin David, played by writer/director Jesse Eisenberg. That light exposes a tortured soul, one who spikes the road trip template.
Even better? The story’s examination of Jewish pain, guilt and resilience. “A Real Pain” has plenty to say, and you’ll welcome each cultural nod. It’s one of the year’s most satisfying tales.
Cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Eisenberg) fly to Poland to visit their grandmother’s roots. The pair are lifelong friends, a connection sealed by their love for the late matriarch.
They’ve signed on for a tourist trek through Jewish cultural sites, including the remnants of a Nazi-era concentration camp. They’ll cap the trip with a visit to Grandma’s Polish home.
Heavy stuff. Good thing Benji packed plenty of weed and an insatiable need to be the main attraction.
Always.
The two couldn’t be more different. Benji is a livewire who lacks anything close to a filter. David’s “perfect” life is betrayed by neurotic tics lurking not far beneath the surface.
It’s a Mutt and Jeff set up sure to throw off sparks, and that’s before Benji starts acting out among their fellow tourists. He all but tortures their tour guide (Will Sharpe), clashes with his fellow travelers and leaves David crippled by embarrassment.
Why can’t Benji behave?
NOW SEATED ✈️ A Real Pain (2024) | dir. Jesse Eisenberg pic.twitter.com/DvuBBsWRf7
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Benji’s pain rises to the surface. A lot. When it does, we understand why it’s hard for David to push him away once and for all.
Culkin is sensational in a showy role that could have gone sideways. You can sense why Benji can get away with almost anything. His observations aren’t easily dismissed and his charisma leaps off the screen.
Yeah, he’s a blowhard, but he makes compelling points and his passion is palpable. Dismiss him at your peril.
Eisenberg’s directorial eye is deceptively simple. There’s a lyrical nature to his canvas, a plainspoken approach keeping the main characters in focus. David is the straight man, but Eisenberg makes sure we see his character’s moral compass spinning like a top.
The pair attempt to connect with their Jewish roots, a concept fraught with emotional triggers. Beni chafes at a first-class train ride, understanding the tragic circumstances his predecessors faced.
You might call it a virtue signal, but Benji’s pained expression says otherwise.
Their fellow tourists bring their own emotional baggage to the trip, a journey made harder by Benji’s shtick. A simple sequence where the travelers reveal immigrant success stories is surprisingly genuine.
“A Real Pain” never feels forced or inauthentic.
Even better? Benji choreographs his fellow travelers to pose around a statue exhibit. The joy of the moment explains so much without saying a word.
Dark humor abounds, and Eisenberg knows how to ladle those moments out. He’s just as comfortable with quieter scenes, like when the tourists place stones on a Jewish grave site.
This may be just his second directorial effort, but Eisenberg flashes a visual efficiency that fills in the gaps. The film opens in a bustling airport, revealing the differences between the main characters.
Like most road trip films, “A Real Pain” lacks narrative heft. The journey is the story, allowing the characters to feel their way to a healthier future.
A simple hug late in the film isn’t just a third-act kicker but a grab-the-Kleenex box moment. That tells you just how gratifying this “Pain” proves to be.
HiT or Miss: “A Real Pain” offers two delightful performances in a road trip dramedy with intent.
