A Real Pain Review – A Thoughtful and Witty Exploration of Family and History

Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain delivers an emotionally rich and darkly humorous take on the mismatched-buddy comedy, blending sharp wit with a poignant reflection on family, identity, and historical trauma. As his second outing as writer-director, following When You Finish Saving the World, Eisenberg crafts a deeply personal road movie that balances laugh-out-loud moments with profound emotional weight, carried by two outstanding lead performances from Eisenberg himself and Kieran Culkin.

A Journey Through Memory and Conflict

The film follows Jewish-American cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) as they embark on a tour of Poland to honor their recently deceased grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. While the trip is meant to be a solemn tribute to their heritage, long-standing familial tensions soon bubble to the surface, set against the backdrop of historical sites that hold deep generational significance.

David is reserved and methodical, a digital ad executive with a stable life in New York, a loving wife (Ellora Torchia), and a young son (played by Eisenberg’s real-life child, Banner). In stark contrast, Benji is a charismatic but reckless free spirit, whose impulsive nature—like mailing weed to himself in Poland—often leads to trouble. As they navigate their journey, their opposing personalities clash in both hilarious and deeply affecting ways.

Blending Comedy and Reflection

Eisenberg masterfully infuses playful, offbeat humor into the film’s heavier themes. Some standout moments include Benji dragging their tour group into a staged photo op at a Polish war memorial, storming out of a first-class train compartment because it feels inappropriate given the Jewish history of trains during World War II, and calling out their British tour guide (a fantastic Will Sharpe) for bombarding them with too many historical facts.

Despite its quick-witted dialogue and observational humor, A Real Pain doesn’t shy away from its weightier themes. The title cleverly refers not just to Benji’s loud and unpredictable nature, but also to the broader examination of inherited trauma and how contemporary struggles pale in comparison to the unimaginable pain endured by previous generations. The film thoughtfully explores how history continues to shape personal identity, asking whether modern grief and personal struggles can ever be understood in the context of historical atrocities.

One of the film’s most powerful moments occurs during the group’s visit to Majdanek concentration camp, where blue Zyklon B gas stains still remain on the walls. The scene is handled with sensitivity and emotional depth, ensuring it resonates without feeling out of place in the film’s tonal landscape.

Captivating Performances

At the heart of A Real Pain are Eisenberg and Culkin’s compelling performances. Eisenberg steps outside his usual awkward intellectual persona, bringing warmth and humor to David, while subtly conveying his undercurrent of jealousy and resentment toward Benji’s effortless charm. Culkin, meanwhile, fully inhabits the larger-than-life, unpredictable Benji, giving him a complexity that goes beyond comic relief—a mix of bravado, vulnerability, and deep-rooted melancholy. Their dynamic is authentic and deeply engaging, making their relationship the emotional core of the film.

Final Verdict

While A Real Pain may not be visually daring or formally groundbreaking, its smart script, emotional depth, and outstanding performances make it an engaging and deeply affecting experience. Eisenberg delivers a thought-provoking meditation on family, grief, and generational trauma, all while maintaining a light touch that never feels heavy-handed. The film effortlessly blends humor with heartbreak, offering a tender, nuanced look at the complex bonds that define us.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) – A sharp, moving, and beautifully performed film that balances humor and history with remarkable ease.