The film features Seth Rogen playing two characters: Herschel, an Eastern European Jewish immigrant from the early 1900s, and Ben, his last living relative. It's amusing to note that Seth Rogen manages to look comical even when he isn’t actually being humorous. So why is *An American Pickle* so lacking in humor (I managed one laugh)? I suspect having two Rogens on screen somehow diminishes the comedic effect. Another…

The trailer initially grabbed my attention; the concept of an older person feeling lost in today’s world and having difficulty adapting to current challenges is appealing. The present day must seem strange to him, yet still preferable to life a century prior, considering how far we've come. ....I noticed the average rating didn’t even meet the minimum threshold, which made me uncertain about seeing it. However, th…

There’s a sense that 'An American Pickle' could have been something special, but it doesn't quite manage to live up to its promise. It isn't the place of a critic to discuss what a movie ought to be, only to evaluate the one presented. With that in mind, the issue with 'An American Pickle' seems to be that two different movies are competing for attention. I found myself hoping for the story about family and loss, cen…

HBO Max's arrival highlights how important streaming has been for new filmmakers and writers worldwide. *An American Pickle* is the first original film released by the service, offering Brandon Trost (in his directorial debut) and Simon Rich (with their feature film screenplay debut) a chance to showcase their abilities. Despite my interest in what they could bring, I was primarily looking forward to Seth Rogen’s dua…