A Real Pain is laugh out loud funny. It’ll help Christians understand the Jewish experience

This is not a Holocaust movie, says David Hoffbrand. It’s an entertaining comedy that speaks to the impact of generational trauma on the Jewish community. If you want to be both entertained and moved, this is the film for you

Jesse Eisenberg’s latest film, A Real Pain, is simultaneously a road trip movie, an odd-couple story and a reflection on how we process grief - all set against a backdrop of the Holocaust, as experienced by second-generation survivor families.

This juxtaposition lends the film its depth and pathos, turning it into something of a multi-layered feast. It is highly entertaining and funny, with a tight, snappy script and sparse direction that keep it moving. Moments of sadness are offset by genuinely laugh-out-loud lines and scenes that linger in the mind.