Sundance 2024

Jesse Eisenberg's sophomore directorial effort, A Real Pain, offers a significant improvement over his debut, When You Finish Saving the World. While that film left me feeling frustrated by its nearly insufferable characters, A Real Pain finds a way to balance the abrasive personalities of its leads with enough humanity and humor to make for a compelling watch. Centered around two cousins reconnecting while on a Holocaust tour in Poland, the film deftly navigates the complexities of family, memory, and generational trauma, prompting the audience to reflect on their own experiences while remaining grounded in its characters' unique dynamic.

Kieran Culkin delivers a standout performance as Daniel, the cooler, magnetic, yet endlessly frustrating cousin. He has that rare ability to be simultaneously hilarious and exasperating, embodying the kind of person you'd find fascinating in short bursts but unbearable over an extended period. His portrayal is nuanced, capturing the charm and wit that make him "really f🤩king cool" while also conveying the selfishness and recklessness that would make him exhausting as a friend. His balance of charm and recklessness makes him so watchable, and his dynamic with Eisenberg, who also stars in the film, is one of the film's greatest strengths.

Eisenberg's writing is sharp and witty, much like his debut, but it feels more focused and specific to the characters here. The humor is biting, with laugh-out-loud funny moments, but it's also balanced by a more profound emotional undercurrent from the weight of their shared family history. The cousins' journey through Poland, particularly against the backdrop of the Holocaust, creates moments of reflection, awkwardness, and discomfort. It's in these moments that Eisenberg allows the characters' flaws to surface, but unlike his previous film, these flaws feel more forgivable andmore human.

The film tackles themes of guilt, memory, and familial responsibility, yet it never feels weighed down by them. Eisenberg expertly balances the heavier subject matter with light, often irreverent banter, making the journey through Poland more engaging and emotionally resonant. The film doesn't shy away from showing the contradictions in its characters—people who can be both incredibly self-absorbed and deeply affected by the weight of their ancestry.

Ultimately, A Real Pain succeeds where Eisenberg's first film faltered. Though occasionally insufferable, the characters are layered and relatable enough to make their journey worthwhile. Kieran Culkin's electric performance elevates the film and is a strong early contender for Oscar consideration.

— 4 / 5 ⭐