Expectations can be a pretty dangerous thing when it comes to movies. Go into a film with your excitement levels too high, and it’s easy to walk away disappointed when the movie doesn’t measure up to the unrealistic bar you’ve set in your head. That certainly could have been the case with “A Real Pain." After loving the initial trailer and hearing glowing recommendations from colleagues, my sky-high expectations seemed destined to be unfulfilled.
However, to my sheer delight, “A Real Pain” was everything I’d hoped, wanted and needed it to be. This 2024 comedy-drama had me laughing, reflecting and then thanking Jesse Eisenberg for crafting such a special little movie. And now this critical darling, and awards contender, has arrived on Hulu (as of Jan. 16) following a (brief) period on premium video-on-demand streaming.
