On paper, a film about a man being preserved in pickle brine for 100 years, to wake up in 2020 and discover that the world is very different than how he remembered, is ripe for comedy. It’s the basic fish out of water story. Or better yet, the man out of the pickle juice. But as seen in the new trailer for “An American Pickle,” Seth Rogen has turned that ridiculous story into something…heart-felt?
In the first trailer for “An American Pickle,” Seth Rogen stars as a 1920s immigrant that has arrived in America and earned a job at a pickle factory. But when he falls into a vat of brining liquid, he’s perfectly preserved for 100 years until he’s discovered in 2020. Upon reawakening, he is brought together with his great-grandson (also Seth Rogen), a hapless loser that needs direction in his life and is still trying to deal with the death of his parents.
Sure, there’s plenty of comedy to be found in the footage shown, but there’s also a surprising amount of heart, as the two men help each other grow and develop a powerful bond. It feels like a natural evolution of Rogen’s films over the past decade, as he’s grown from just making stoner comedies to films that are equally hilarious but also featuring a bit of a message. Films like “Blockers,” “Neighbors 2,” and “Long Shot” show this evolution in recent years.
READ MORE: ‘An American Pickle’ First Look Photos Show Seth Rogen’s Dual Roles In The HBO Max Comedy
“An American Pickle” is produced by Rogen alongside his Point Grey partner, Evan Goldberg. The film is directed by Brandon Trost. Joining Rogen in the cast are Sarah Snook, Jorma Taccone, Maya Erskine, and Kalen Allen.
“An American Pickle” was picked up by HBO Max after Sony gave up on the idea of releasing it in theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film will now stream exclusively on the new platform beginning on August 6.