An American Pickle (2020)
Director: Brandon Trost
Screenwriter: Simon Rich
Starring: Seth Rogen, Sarah Snook, Jorma Taccone
The film opens in 1919 Poland with Herschel Greenbaum (Seth Rogen) and his wife Sarah (Sarah Snook) sitting by a lake, sharing simple dreams: Sarah wishes for enough security to afford a proper headstone, while Herschel delights in the small fantasy of tasting seltzer water. When Cossacks attack their village, the couple flees to America seeking a safer life. Herschel finds work as a rat killer in a pickle factory, and for a time their prospects improve. That peace is shattered when Herschel falls into a vat of pickling brine and, through an improbable preservation, survives for a century to wake up in 2019.
Awakened in modern Brooklyn, Herschel encounters his great-grandson Ben, an app developer who, incidentally, can get seltzer water anytime he wants. Ben, also played by Seth Rogen, is a very different man: sarcastic, modern, and shaped by contemporary Silicon Valley culture. The movie hinges on this duality, using the juxtaposition of two characters—both portrayed by Rogen—to examine culture clash, family ties, and the messy humor that comes from a man out of time trying to navigate a world that has moved on without him.
Simon Rich, the screenwriter who adapted his 2014 short story “Sell Out,” brings a distinctive comedic voice to the screenplay. Rich, known for work on Saturday Night Live and as a writer with Pixar, balances broad, accessible jokes with sharper, New Yorker-style wit. The Brooklyn setting in the film is drawn with light, careful strokes: the movie avoids lazy clichés about the borough and its residents. Yes, contemporary Brooklyn includes hipsters and niche trends, but the film presents a wider, more varied community, populated by characters who feel specific rather than stereotypical.
Seth Rogen’s dual performance is the film’s greatest asset. Playing both Herschel and Ben, Rogen creates two fully realized, separate personalities without leaning on obvious costume or makeup tricks. Herschel is earnest, old-fashioned, and direct; Ben is world-weary, dry, and self-contained. Rogen commits to both roles with nuance, and a particularly clever scene where Herschel impersonates Ben makes it obvious how distinct the two characters are despite sharing one actor. It’s a showcase of range for Rogen, who intentionally steps away from his familiar ‘stoner’ persona to deliver a layered comedic and dramatic turn.
The movie mixes warm-hearted moments with laugh-out-loud absurdity. Herschel’s attempts to adjust to modern technology, consumer culture, and social norms produce much of the film’s humor, while quieter scenes between family members lend emotional weight. Brandon Trost’s direction keeps the pace brisk and the tone mostly buoyant, letting the humor breathe while allowing heartfelt scenes to land.
However, the film is not without flaws. The third act is where the adaptation’s limits become clear; the short-story origins sometimes show through in a finale that struggles to sustain the thematic complexity introduced earlier. Herschel is a man with opinions shaped by his era, and the film tries to wrestle with how those beliefs fit—or clash—with contemporary values. A subplot involving freedom of speech and public protest introduces political ambiguity that the movie never fully resolves. The result is a narrative tension: the film aims to be both empathetic and provocative, but it doesn’t always clarify its stance, leaving viewers with questions about its intended message.
Despite these issues, the film’s charm and Rogen’s committed performances carry it through. The supporting cast, including Sarah Snook and Jorma Taccone, round out the picture with grounded performances that help maintain emotional coherence. The screenplay’s intelligence and the movie’s willingness to be both silly and sincere make it a worthwhile watch for audiences who appreciate character-driven comedies with a touch of heart.
Overall, An American Pickle is an original and enjoyable film that benefits from a strong lead performance and a fresh premise. It doesn’t always resolve its thematic questions neatly, but it offers enough warmth and humor to make the ride rewarding. If you’re looking for a film that blends culture clash comedy with genuine emotional beats and a memorable dual role by Seth Rogen, this one is worth checking out.
18/24