Summary & Introduction
An American Pickle a comedy-drama film released in 2020, showcases Seth Rogen as the star and features him in a rare dual role as both Herschel Greenbaum, an immigrant from Eastern Europe in 1919, and his great-grandson, an app developer named Ben Greenbaum. The film was directed by Brandon Trost and written by Simon Rich, who adapted his short story Sell Out.
Point Grey Pictures created the film and Warner Bros. released it on the HBO Max streaming service. It is a blend of absurdist comedy and deeper reflections on family, aspirations, and the contrast between the values of the old country and contemporary attitudes.
Storyline
The film starts in the fictional Eastern European village of Schlupsk in 1919. It features Herschel Greenbaum, a ditch digger living a monotonous life, marries Sarah, a woman who wishes to share a better life with him. To achieve their dreams, the couple emigrates to the United States and settles in Brooklyn, where Herschel picks up a job in a pickle factory.
As the factory closed down, Herschel fell into a vat of brine which preserved him in the most bizarre way for a century. Now, in 2019, he lives in Brooklyn, where he’s been miraculously preserved for 100 years. Scientists confirm the “science” behind his preservation with a comically routine press conference while neglecting the “whys” of the situation.
While he has no surviving family, he does have one descendant. This is where Ben Greenbaum, his great-grandson comes in. Ben happens to have the same face as Herschel, which is uncanny. He is also an app developer dealing with a creative block paired with unresolved emotional wounds from his parents’ deaths. The two bond initially over their shared blood but as their contrasting cultures and personalities shine, things turn tense pretty quickly.
Towards the later parts of the saga, we see Herschel trying to honor his wife, Sarah, by cleaning an abandoned cemetery. In modern society, these actions have been branded as “values” and as a result, he ends up starting his own business to finance his efforts. He literally has to create a “pickle” business. He Makes a hipster street cart line selling what he claims to be artisanal “authentic” pickles. The opening of his business ironically leads to the community indulging in what he branded as eccentric “authentic” food which leads to his success.
Feeling overshadowed and bitter, Ben begins to secretly undermine Herschel. Reporting dual ‘questionable’ meal protocols to health inspectors set off a wave of negative press. Herschel, who openly expressed his controversial, 20th-century, politically incorrect views, also suffered blunt, cancel-culture outrage and social media fallout.
While Ben spirals downward politically and professionally, Herschel continues to hold tight to his ideals. They seem to simmer in a publicly documented feud until self-proclaimed family smack insults create deeper division. After tracking Ben down, he surprisingly assists during a deportation attempt, aka targeting, that puts him on the wrong side of authorities. Together, the two reconcile, or so it seams, hiding in a transformed Schlupsk; land once known for it’s beauty, but now industrial wasteland.
Contrary to where I thought the story was heading, both uncover the other side’s loose ends and end with a surprising two-sides to a coin. Modern times do have a dash of joy, and family doesn’t have to mean a chore, but roots to heritage that build a soul, and grant grit.
Cast & Crew
Seth Rogen as Herschel Greenbaum / Ben Greenbaum — Ben Greenbaum and Herschel Greenbaum are both brought to life through the distinct physicality, voice, and mannerisms of Rogen’s dual performance.
Sarah Snook as Sarah Greenbaum — Herschel’s devoted wife.
Eliot Glazer as Christian — Ben’s workplace peer.
Kalen Allen as Kevin — Ben’s friend and partner from the application.
Molly Evensen as Clara — Clara played by Molly Evensen is Herschel’s neighbor in the film’s first scenes.
Brandon Trost is the film’s director of photography and he employs a whimsical style of visual storytelling as he works on the film with Simon Rich adapting his own short story for the screenplay. It features imagery in stark contrast with sepia toned Brooklyn of the early 1900s and the clean, bright modern Brooklyn.
Themes and Analysis
Case Study
Generational Divide
An American Pickle explores the contrast between the hardworking nature of immigrants and modern-day comforts. Ben and Herschel, in a way, represent the two sides of the narrative. Ben embodies modern-day cynicism and self-doubt, altogether devoid of the immigrant pride and rich family history, while Herschel represents the frugality and relentless work ethic of the family, deeply entrenched in tradition.
Cultural Satire
The movie satirizes the modern and old-world absurdities, from the unquestioned acceptance of Herschel’s brining as a means of survival, the short-lived nature of fame the internet can bestow, as well as cancel culture and its selective outrage.
Family and Legacy
The lore of the Greenbaums runs deep with the family feud, intertwined with threads of grief, loneliness, and legacy. Herschel’s unwavering devotion to preserving his wife’s memory, headstone and all, starkly opposes his grandson Ben’s loathsome view of failure and emotional connections.
The Immigrant Experience
The tale of Herschel is similar to the countless immigrants who made their way to America with nothing in their pockets. There is a certain willingness to adapt, even if it is stubborn, like Herschel and his survival instinct.
Comedy & Tone
The film’s humor is built off Seth Rogen’s dual role. He plays the character Herschel and as Ben. Sing & laugh together from the funny thick Yiddish accent and obselete vocab. The stuffy voice and moderate tone together with bombastic energy equals humor.
Incapsulated in wit and humor is political correctness and paradoxal humor together with deadpan delivery from the old-fashioned Herschel. The blend of humor and character is not easy, yet the film struck balance fabulously while still rendering the character relatable.
Production Style
The Early Photograph look is acheived in the film by the use of retro like lenses and warm toasty colors together with low saturation. Crisp focus is used in the more modern sequences which depict the strikng leap from 1919 to 2019.
Combined use of splitscreen and motion control to film the scenes with characters from the two periods interacting is crucial as they acheive interaction blend. Body doubles are used to make each interaction shelmless, yet capture the essence of the character.
Reception
Critics had pointed adapting themes of absured humor along with heartwarmng stories, and differing from one of the two characters from each. Reviewing the film as a overall, American Pickle changed the growing persception of ot making Rogen the creator of two characters.
The themes of family and heritage resonated with many, particularly with immigrants who related to their grandparent’s struggles and connections to Herschel’s story. Additionally, the film received attention from viewers who enjoy unconventional comedies.
Conclusion
The integration of slapstick and satire with emotional depth in An American Pickle creates an inviting atmosphere where audiences can enjoy the quirky aspects of culture while contemplating generational connections.
The film is an exploration of identity and heritage that is charming and quirky, even if it lacks sharp political commentary. Thanks to Seth Rogen’s dual role, the film is well anchored and Ben and Herschel feel like relatives instead of just comedic foils.
The clash of past and present, while at odds, has the opportunity to learn from each other and the film beautifully encapsulates the sentiment that family, regardless of the distance in time and culture, can discover shared understanding.
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