Review: A Real Pain

Official Synopsis: Mismatched cousins David and Benji (Jesse Eisenberg and 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.

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Jesse Eisenberg. He gets a lot of flack for being "one note" but I tend to enjoy most of his movies. His last time in the director's chair (When You Finish Saving The World) was promising, and he's improved even more with A Real Pain. 

Culkin and Eisenberg feel made for each other. You couldn't find two better actors to play these characters. You could argue Eisenberg is writing a version of himself but it's a very honest one. David may often get frustrated with Benji, but he also idolizes him in a way. In a few key scenes where he expresses it, I couldn't help but feel for him. I would say I'm a quieter person as well, and I'll ever know what it's like to light up a room. It was nice to hear another person voice those thoughts out loud. 

Culkin has had a great few years on Succession and I'm glad he's bringing a big performance like this to the big screen again. You're not going to find Roman Roy in this performance, save for maybe talking too much. He's a broken man trying to make sense of a tragedy. Benji is a character that is almost overwhelming. When he's not on screen, someone is talking or thinking about him. He's ever present.

Brisk, funny, and heartfelt, this is a step up for Eisenberg's directing and it features two amazing lead performances. Trigger warning for travelers who hate other people being late and holding up the group. David and Benji would've been on my shit list. 

Grade: A