An American Pickle (2020): A Tasty Yet Shallow Treat

An American Pickle” (2020) is a comedy fiction film that explores the complexities and novelties of modern life through the eyes of a man from the early 20th century who wakes up after a century-long stasis. I discovered this film through a video clip of the pickle-making scene in my Facebook newsfeed, a rare instance of the newsfeed providing serendipitous joy. As a fan of time displacement stories that offer intriguing “What If” scenarios, I was immediately drawn to it and decided to watch. The plot is intriguing, but the screenplay leaves much to be desired, earning it only a “Raw” rating from Mangoidiots.

The story follows Herschel Greenbaum, a Jewish settler from Eastern Europe, who arrives in New York with his wife in 1919. He finds a job at a pickle factory, but an accident leads to him being “pickled” and waking up 100 years later. He is taken in by his great-grandson, Ben Greenbaum. Both roles are played by Seth Rogen, who does a phenomenal job showcasing fantastic variation between the two characters. The film relies heavily on his performance, which carries the script.

Unfortunately, the story lacks other noteworthy characters, leaving viewers with little emotional connection beyond the two main roles. There are no villains to provide energy, and the opportunity to highlight the journey towards success is missed, focusing instead on the failures. The family bonding between the older Greenbaum and his great-grandson could have been explored more, and though the climax scenes are clichéd, they do save the day.

The screenplay does a great job satirizing various aspects of contemporary American society, such as the changes in cultural norms over the last hundred years, the power of social media, the rise in consumerism, and attitudes towards immigrants. However, scenes related to gender rights and religious attitudes feel clichéd and are abruptly dropped when the screenplay lags, without deeper exploration.

If you can appreciate the satirical elements and Seth Rogen’s acting, “An American Pickle” will be a tasty delight. However, if you are looking for anything more meaningful, you may be disappointed.