Making a film that deals with the holocaust as a buddy comedy seems like an audacious choice. Yet that is what actor/writer/director Jesse Eisenberg managed to do with A Real Pain and managed to create a heartwarming and funny film that is not at all painful to watch. I have to admit I’m not all that familiar with Eisenberg’s body of work apart from The Social Network, Now You See Me, Zombieland, and his portrayal as Lex Luthor in Batman V Superman. But I’m really impressed with his sophomore directorial effort here, the first in which he also starred.

The story chronicles the adventure of mismatched cousins, Eisenberg’s David Kaplan and Benji (Kieran Culkin) who embark on a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. A Real Pain kicks off on a high note, making me laugh from the get-go. Benji gets to JFK airport ahead of time, while the always restless David keeps sending him a bunch of messages as he makes his way there from Manhattan. Eisenberg amusingly highlights the contrasting personalities as David is baffled as to why Benji seems to enjoy traveling through checkpoints (he and the female TSA agent get along), pays full attention to flight attendants, etc.

I expect that mayhem will eventually ensue when Benji orders weed delivered straight to their hotel and insists that David smokes pot with him on the rooftops. But this isn’t just a lighthearted and goofy situation; the conversation reveals the unique connection they share as cousins who spent their childhood together and were once super tight. Their life paths have diverged since then as David is now married with a young son while Benji still lives in his mother’s basement. Eisenberg’s script deftly balances the comical bits (the scene where Benji compliments David’s feet is a hoot) and the serious side of their family history.

Once in Poland, we’re introduced to some interesting people on the tour, notably the recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), Rwandan Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan) who converted to Judaism, and British tour guide James (Will Sharpe). I recognized Sharpe’s name as the English-Japanese actor who has directed a few movies, including The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021). The interactions among the tour members are often whimsical but Eisenberg’s script is deceptively frivolous as it deftly touches upon loss, grief, and regret in profound and relatable ways.

Somehow Eisenberg manages to avoid making the movie heavy-handed by embracing the awkward moments. There’s a scene at a graveyard where Benji complains that James’s constant barrage of facts seems to trivialize the people buried there. It’s serious but there’s a touch of humor woven in that I can’t help but chuckle.

The real star of the movie is definitely Kieran Culkin who’s given the flashier role, and he nails the role of a rather tragic character perfectly. That’s not to say that Eisenberg is a slouch in the acting department, but since he frequently takes on roles of anxious characters, it doesn’t feel like much of a stretch. Still, I think David is a rather complex character with an equally compelling arc.

I read that the story is loosely autobiographical, which explains why it feels deeply personal. According to IMDb, the spot where the cousins go to their grandmother’s house in Poland is actually where Eisenberg’s real-life ancestors made their home during the diaspora. There’s a real reverence for the subject matter, thus the concentration camp tour scene is appropriately harrowing.

Eisenberg proved to be quite the triple threat as he absolutely crushed it as a writer, director, and actor. This film is engaging, poignant, hilarious, and unexpectedly layered with genuine, well-earned empathy. I have a special appreciation for efficient storytelling, so kudos to Eisenberg for nailing the runtime at a perfect 90 minutes. I did not have A Real Pain in my best-film-of-2024 bingo card, but what a delightful surprise it turned out to be.

What are your thoughts on A Real Pain?

///