A Real Pain – Movie Reviews by Ry!

A Real Pain – Tough Bonds and Fragile Hearts: A Family Tour

In film, enjoyment is in the eye of the beholder.  No matter what type of film (action, adventure, romance), it becomes a manner of what grips you to the escape.  The emotional fervor that comes over us is of our own personal guise, but when it strikes right … it can be a magical thing.  In this review, I look at the latest character film to hit the big screen.  In a very simple tale of family and memories, it becomes something much more.  With strong characters and a realistic look at life, A Real Pain is a poignant tale about what it means to truly connect with family.

Through the bonds of the past and present, two cousins will embark on a journey that will show them the true meaning of family.  In the heart of the tale, what is it that grips?  From character to storytelling, telling the tale becomes a manner of circumstance.  With this film, it is a mixture of characterization and slice of life built on a foundation of familial themes.  In the beginning, we are introduced to our main characters, Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) Kaplan.  These cousins, having been apart for a long time, decide they should fulfill their grandmother’s wish to connect with their family roots in Poland (main plot).  From here, the film builds its characters through adventure, showcasing a futility of human behavior through the clashing personalities of Benji and David.  As they travel on their Polish tour, each moment showcases a stark contrast between the cousins; one built on distance and time since their grandmother’s death.  The situations are built through an organic level of ‘slice of life’ scenes, one that bends away from traditional acts to focus on the relationship and growth of its characters.  From momentary hijinks, raw conversations and subtle observations, you see a riveting narrative built on humanistic detail.  It is through Benji and David that we see a subtle layer of emotional meaning, one that levels within themes of history, brotherhood and personal reflection.  As Benji and David are reconnecting, it is the revelation of their differences that becomes prudent (on the journey).  There comradery lifts the journey above its simple narrative, giving that riveting showcase of what is really … important to life.

As the cousins continue to learn about their family roots, their journey slowly shifts from an adventure to a coming-of-age tale.  Even with the shift, the themes continue to grow but through a more personal display of humanistic zeal.  Each conversation becomes a moment of self-discovery, a truth of intrinsic dialogue that builds to a broader context of the world within their own flaws.  As the two start to come to certain realizations, it leads to a wholesome climax of what life means (in the end).  A Real Pain is a film that shows the strength of true storytelling.  If you are a fan of character or lifestyle films, this one is for you.  In any case, this is a film that is truly … award worthy.

Full Score – 4.5 out of 5 (Award Worthy)