Drawing me in with the promise of the explosive acting stylings of Kieran Culkin and the more reserved awkwardness of Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain is clearly a show and tell of performance masterclass, using the dichotomy between its two leads to propel it into something that feels real.
Maybe it was the dialogue penned by Eisenberg himself, or the rest of the talented ensemble cast who help bring their own sense of realism to the film – one thing’s for sure, you really do feel like you’re on this heritage tour with the cousins.
But despite the unbeatable chemistry, the film left me asking one clear question:
What was the point?
For the entirety of the film, we are faced with the same comparison; Eisenberg’s David Kaplan is an awkward and introverted family man, and Culkin’s Benji Kaplan is the complete opposite – extroverted and loud but missing some key part of his adulthood.
Why this was not a story about teaching David to come out of his shell more, or helping Benji get his life together is beyond me. Yes – there are elements of this kind of story, but they seem to get lost in the shuffle, with neither being fully realised.
When the film ends, and we return to New York, it feels like they regress to what they were before they left. No growth.
I do think it’s cute the way they clearly love each other more than anything in the world, and David’s speech to Benji on the building roof (and even his breakdown in the restaurant) did wonders in better expanding and explaining their relationship. Eisenberg’s acting was remarkable – he spoke about Benji like he was his brother. Felt so real, so raw. It really moved me.
It also made me think – why are they not just brothers in this? The story treats them like they’re basically brothers, I feel like they could just be kind of estranged from each other and that would be okay. It’s a small thing, but I feel like it would really make it a bit more compelling.
A clear standout is Kieran Culkin who, despite often playing very samey characters, brings something slightly different to Benji here. He is loud and extroverted and not afraid to say what he wants to say – and also, for me, completely unbearable for the first half of this film.
There’s a difference between ‘being real’ and just being obnoxious, and Culkin unfortunately seems to be walking a bit on the obnoxious side. Yes, the moments when he is the life of the group are so endearing to watch. He truly does help bring these lost souls together on their journey. But I find that every other moment he is doing something that makes me put my head in my hands and stop rooting for him.
Worse that his comments all seem to be correct or work out in the end – I hate that. There are better ways to show that he’s David’s opposite without making him so annoying all the time.
Regardless, A Real Pain is still an unmatched showcase on the acting prowess of Kieran Culkin, and the brilliant writing of Jesse Eisenberg. Come for the fun chemistry between the two leads, stay for the brilliant ensemble cast, and later feel a bit disappointed about the wasted potential.
