TAGGED AS: Comedy, HBO, HBO Max, movie, movies
Subscribers of HBO MAX get two Seth Rogens for the price of one with the streaming service’s first original feature, An American Pickle. Rogen stars as a Jewish immigrant in 1919 who winds up thrust forward a century into modern America, where he meets his great-great-grandson — also played by Rogen. The one-man, two-character comedy is receiving mostly positive reviews, which highlight a sentimentality over hilarity as well as a surprising performance from its lead in his dual roles.
Here’s what critics are saying about An American Pickle:
It marks an auspicious beginning and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
– Pete Hammond, Deadline
An American Pickle is an absolutely brilliant two-hander… it’s exactly what we need right now.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
In a time when we can all use a good laugh, An American Pickle very much delivers.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
Even premiering on HBO Max, it feels awfully inconsequential, like an ambitious Funny or Die sketch.
– Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
(Photo by HBO Max)
This dual performance is the best, purest thing he’s ever done as an artist, in front of or behind the camera.
– Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
An American Pickle features what may be the most mature performance we’ve seen from Seth Rogen in a while.
– Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
The most exciting part of this pickle is Rogen’s breaking of his manchild mold to explore roles more challenging, rich, and uniquely funny.
– Kristy Puchko, IGN
An American Pickle gets by on the strength (or make that strengths) of Rogen’s performance.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
Rogen is so adept at breathing depth into two distinct roles.
– David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
Both roles ultimately demand a lot from Rogen, and he is exceptional.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
I was expecting something along the lines of Adam Sandler in Jack and Jill, but what I got instead is reminiscent of Nic Cage in Adaptation.
– Rendy Jones, Rendy Reviews
The movie trickery, laid on with extensive CGI effects, is impressive, aided immeasurably by Rogen in top form on both accounts.
– Pete Hammond, Deadline
While the premise is promising, the execution aches from the growing pains of Rogen’s shifting persona.
– Kristy Puchko, IGN
(Photo by HBO Max)
It’s not laugh-out-loud funny; it’s folksy funny.
– Michael Roffman, Consequence of Sound
An American Pickle is more interesting than laugh-out-loud hilarious.
– Mike Ryan, Uproxx
[It’s] a comedy too contrived to be convincing and too formulaic to be funny.
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
There are some scattered laughs but it’s not particularly funny.
– Brian Truitt, USA Today
An American Pickle lacks the focus to be hilarious or emotional. Instead, it’s a frustrating, ramshackle affair.
– Matt Goldberg, Collider
An American Pickle is most certainly the type of film that will appeal more so to Jewish viewers than a broad comedy audience.
– Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies
The humor is for the most part genuinely funny, and even doubly funny if you share in the Jewish references.
– Gabriella Geisinger, Digital Spy
(Photo by HBO Max)
There’s a lot of heart behind the picture’s sentiments about familial honor, work ethic and religious heritage.
– Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
An American Pickle uses arguably the dumbest concept imaginable to tell a surprisingly tender story.
– Brandon Katz, Observer
There’s an undeniable and lovely sweetness at play in this film; a type of warmth and acceptance that helps elevate the entire package.
– Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm
An American Pickle is swift and nimble enough to avoid weighing itself down with schmaltz.
– A.O. Scott, New York Times
Its soulful sweetness outweighs its flaws.
– David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
An American Pickle premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, August 6.
72%
Thumbnail image by HBO Max
