The King of Staten Island Movie Review
The King of Staten Island is the latest movie from director Judd Apatow. There had been a lot of buzz surrounding this movie, so when it came out I dutifully roped my friends into watching it with me. Here’s a warning: If you are like me and Pete Davidson is not your cup of tea, this movie may make you like him.
Scott (Pete Davidson) is in his early twenties and is a bit stuck. He spends his days getting stoned and tattooing his friends as he dreams of becoming a legitimate tattoo artist. He is sleeping with Kelsey (Bel Powley) but drags his feet when any talk of serious commitment comes up. He lives with his mother, Margie (Marisa Tomei) and it is revealed that Scott’s father was a firefighter who died on the job when Scott was little.
The movie is set in motion when Margie begins dating Ray (Bill Burr) who also happens to be a firefighter. Scott and Ray butt heads constantly and a series of unfortunate events force Scott to grow up a bit and consider the direction his life is heading. This is a coming of age story for a young man in his mid-twenties who hasn’t truly dealt with some of the emotional baggage that arrives as you grow up.
Davidson gives a surprisingly nuanced performance. You get a sense of the deep depression and self-confidence issues that plague Scott as he tries to navigate how to get through life. The chemistry between Davidson and Burr makes the movie really work. They play off each other nicely, getting on each other’s nerves while also learning how to cooperate with each other. There’s a hilarious fight scene where Ray throws Scott into the pool while they sling insults at each other.
The best scenes come as Scott crashes at the firehouse with Ray. The group of firemen accept Scott into their ranks and they put him to work, giving him a sense of purpose and a little bit of pride at the fact that he’s contributing something to society. Papa (Steve Buscemi) is easily the best of the firemen, telling Scott stories of his dad and making a big impression with only a little screen time.
The King of Staten Island works so well mainly because of Davidson’s performance. He manages to be funny while also presenting a sympathetic character who you just hope gets his shit together by the end of the movie. Some may muse that Apatow could have gone deeper and explored mental illness a bit further but The King of Staten Island isn’t that kind of movie. It’s a more “light-hearted” look at depression and loss and growing up. It’s a stoner comedy that has a bit of depth, but avoids taking too hard of a look at mental illness. If a movie can make Pete Davidson tolerable then I’m calling it a win.
Movie or Film: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You’re a fan of Judd Apatow’s other movies
2. You like stoner comedies
3. You lost a parent growing up
