Movie Review - An American Pickle

This film was released in the summer, two months before Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. However, I didn't get around to seeing this film until after that sequel starring Sacha Baron Cohen. I thought Borat Subsequent Moviefilm had some funny and effective bits, but, as a whole didn't work. It wasn't until I saw this film that I realized that there was a better way to make all the points and underscore all the themes at which the Borat sequel was aiming. This film is that better way. Written by Simon Rich, a writer for Saturday Night Live and directed by accomplished cinematographer, Brandon Trost, in his feature debut, this film like Borat Subsequent Moviefilm takes a story of a parent and child and uses it as a way of commenting on the sociopolitical landscape and culture that we've experienced under the Trump administration.

Seth Rogen (Neighbors and Knocked Up) stars as Herschel Greenbaum, a man who lives in Eastern Europe in the year 1919, now 100 years ago. He starts out narrating this story, much in the same way and in a lot of ways sounding like Borat. Herschel and Borat are from two different countries but essentially the same part of the world or not that far geographically. Yes, the two are opposite in that Herschel is Jewish and Borat allegedly hates Jewish people, but, both become immigrants one way or the other who come to the United States and either idolize or end up identifying with President Donald Trump.

Herschel comes to New York with his wife and gets a job at a pickle plant. Instead of making pickles though, he is forced to kill rats that get into the factory. During a freak accident akin to the gag and premise of the first episode of Futurama (1999), Herschel is transported into the year 2019. There, he meets his grandson named Ben Greenbaum, also played by Seth Rogen. Ben is a hipster who contrasts with Herschel.

Ben is more of a modern and sensitive man. He's not as aggressive or outgoing. He's certainly not as confrontational as Herschel. Ben has a whole lot more verbal filters than Herschel. Ben also isn't as religious or family-oriented as Herschel. This becomes the key source of conflict between the two. It all focuses around the family gravestones. Over the course of a century, the gravestones and cemetery plot where Ben and Herschel's family is located has fallen into disrepair, having been situated next to a highway or major road way and under a greasy billboard. Ben doesn't care because he rarely visits the cemetery, but the state of the graves angers Herschel and he vows to make enough money, if not a small fortune so that he can buy the plot and take care of it properly.

Ben doesn't want to help, mainly because Herschel insults Ben's life and because Ben blames Herschel for ruining an Internet project that Ben had been working on for years. Herschel essentially ruined Ben's reputation because of Herschel's rather boorish behavior, which ends up getting them both arrested. Ben wants nothing to do with this man out of time, so they separate. A family rivalry forms as Herschel decides to start a business. Seeing what occurs lays out the commentary that this film has on various things that have occurred since Trump became President. From immigration to cancel culture, it's all mocked in brilliant fashion here. Herschel becomes a Trump-like figure at one point, so the film becomes a good bit of satire, if briefly.

Mostly, the clever writing wouldn't work if Rogen hadn't be able to give a good performance as Herschel, and not just during the comedic parts but also during the dramatic ones. When people think of Rogen, his acting abilities usually aren't top of mine. His most prestigious recognition was being nominated for an Emmy for being a writer on Da Ali G Show, a series he ironically did with Sacha Baron Cohen in 2004. Since then, Rogen has given good performances in films like Take This Waltz (2012), Steve Jobs (2015) and The Disaster Artist (2017). This could be considered though his best efforts in terms of showcasing his range.

Rated PG-13 for some language and rude humor.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 29 mins.

Available on HBO Max.