The recent movie A Real Pain, which follows the story of two mismatched cousins touring Poland to honor their grandmother, has been getting love from critics and audiences alike. Let’s take a look to see if the film is worthy of the high praise it’s been getting.

The Good

The performances in the film, especially from Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, are positively spectacular. They add so much emotion to the story while also making their characters feel completely real. Even when there doesn’t seem like much is happening on screen, their talented performances still captivate the audience.

The character of Benji has the potential to become known as a classic movie character. He’s intentionally annoying, yet somehow entertaining and moving. He’s well-written and perfectly-performed. Seeing his arc play out and the gradual hints of his backstory make him a truly fascinating character.

The film is beautifully shot. The directing and cinematography here are impressive achievements. The shots of Polish landscapes and architecture are gorgeous, many of which hold a lot of meaning. The lighting and framing of everything is all intentional and well-planned. There are even tiny details like reflections in wine glasses that add a lot to a scene.

The score is just as beautiful. All of the music is an absolute delight to listen to and adds to the level of emotion the movie has to offer. It helps with the movie’s immersion and brings it all to life. It’s an impressive score that’s even worth listening to on its own.

A Real Pain makes one think by touching on important themes and heavy topics. The story causes one to consider what people of the past would think about us now, and if we’re living the lives they would have wanted for us. It makes us wonder what a “real” human experience is. It’s a powerful and thought-provoking story that will allow the audience to ponder on something different upon each viewing.

The Bad

There could be a bit more explicitness with some details, especially when it comes to Benji and his life. There are hints regarding some serious issues in his personal life, and the audience can somewhat put it together enough to speculate, but it’s never fully said. It’s not even fully realized by his cousin by the end of the film. One could say it’s intentional to encourage the audience to talk to the people in their lives and check in on them more, and part of the point is that the audience only really knows what Dave does, but it’s still all an odd tease.

A couple of the scenes might feel a little too slow to some folks. There are long shots of the environment or of the characters walking together that do slow the movie down in some places. That being said, it’s done intentionally to convey meaning, allow the audience to be a part of the tour group with the characters, or to make the audience feel a certain emotion. It’s just worth noting that some may feel that those moments might be too slow for them.

Conclusion

A Real Pain is a must-see movie for just about any kind of audience member. It’s smart, funny, emotional, and thought-provoking. It covers heavy topics while still proving to be entertaining. The performances are award-worthy, and it’s all shot beautifully. It’s an especially great movie through and through.

Rating: 10/10