Jesse Eisenberg And Kieran Culkin Play Mismatched Cousins In A Real Pain
If you love a good heartfelt comedy, then A Real Pain, starring Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is In Trouble) and Kieran Culkin (Succession) is worth checking out. It centres around two cousins who don’t quite get along with each other, and decide to go on a tour of Poland in order to honour their late grandmother and their heritage. With a release in the US this month, it’s likely to be competing in this awards season before its debut in January in the UK – here’s all you need to know.
What is A Real Pain about?
The film, which is also directed and written by Eisenberg, follows American Jewish cousins Benji and David. The pair’s up-and-down relationship is marked by the fact that they’re somewhat mismatched from each other, with David being more uptight and reserved, and Benji being a “free spirit” who’s happy to be untethered. David, with a wife and children, is used to compromise and solving problems, while Benji is content to do what and go where he feels like. Now adults with a little more introspection, the two agree to go on a trip across Poland in order to take in their cultural past, meet locals and honour their late grandmother’s heritage.
But of course, their contrasting personalities and outlooks on life mean that their journey soon becomes difficult as they clash with each other repeatedly. Even before landing, there’s trouble: David is alarmed by the fact Benji doesn’t care that he’s taking drugs with him through customs. Both are sceptical of the man the other has become: David can’t understand Benji’s lack of direction and lack of filter when it comes to speaking his mind, and Benji, in turn, feels David has lost all his passions and energy in life with his work and family. Further, they are both supposed to be exploring their past and learning more about the Holocaust as they travel across the country, with their bickering becoming a distraction. Both comedy and emotional drama ensue as the two cousins try to stay on good terms with each other, but old disagreements and family rifts mean that this won’t be easy.
Who else stars, and when does the film release?
Alongside Eisenberg and Culkin, A Real Pain stars Jennifer Grey (Red Oaks), Will Sharpe (The White Lotus), Liza Sadovy (A Small Light), Daniel Oreskes (Law & Order) and Kurt Egyiawan (Skyfall). It premiered earlier in the year to a positive reception at the Sundance Film Festival, and following a US release this month will arrive in the UK on 10th January. You can watch the trailer below.
