Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
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| (C) Ayala Malls Cinemas |
Outside of the two lead characters, the film smartly keeps its approach subdued. The subject speaks for itself, and fortunately, A Real Pain knows this so well that there's one particular scene where even the background music is omitted. The members of the tour are also interesting, which is vital since we’re following them in the background as well.
But of course, Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin make the film stand out even more. Culkin brings out a range of emotions in you. While this is not new territory for him, there’s still something in his performance here that shouldn’t be overlooked. Meanwhile, Eisenberg, who also wrote the screenplay, brilliantly unfolds his character in a film that smartly chooses a tour as its setting.
A Real Pain indeed brings out the raw emotions that cut deep. Backed by strong performances and solid writing, this small tale makes a big impression. 4/5 ⭐
A Real Pain is now playing exclusively on Ayala Malls Cinemas in the Philippines.
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes, & Ellora Torchia
