The King of Staten Island

The King of Staten Island, a dramedy directed by Judd Apatow and starring Pete Davidson in a semi-autobiographical character, centers on 24-year-old slacker Scott Carlin, who is still grieving his fireman father's murder 17 years later. Scott is compelled to face his pain and eventually mature when his mother starts seeing another firefighter.

Pete Davidson's sensitive portrayal of Scott, whose loss feels real, is one of the film's most emotional components. It avoids oversimplified answers and carefully considers the effects of childhood trauma on emotional development. Bill Burr provides nuance as Ray, Scott's new stepfather and a firefighter, while Marisa Tomei's portrayal of Margie illustrates the difficulties of loving someone who is in denial. Firehouse sequences are given weight by Steve Buscemi's portrayal of Papa, a seasoned firefighter. Scott's pals' genuine camaraderie is strengthened by their natural and amusing banter. Comedy keeps the emotional stakes high while emerging from everyday interactions. Furthermore, the movie accurately captures the distinctive qualities of Staten Island, placing Scott's hardships within a vibrant cultural setting.

At 136 minutes, the film feels overly long, with repetitive scenes mainly in the second act where Scott, repeatedly encounters the same conflicts without character growth. A more concise edit would enhance emotional impact and pacing. Judd Apatow's lax approach to scene length and reliance on improvisation detracts from structure, leading to comedic moments that don't contribute to character or plot development. The film struggles to balance comedy and drama effectively, sometimes veering into meandering territory. Although Marisa Tomei's performance is commendable, the female characters primarily serve to support Scott, lacking depth. The exploration of how grief affects the family is insufficient, and the transition between dark comedy and earnest drama is often jarring. Some intended heartfelt moments come off as overly sentimental, and the resolution of complex psychological themes, while satisfying, feels overly simplified.

A chaotic but genuine movie, The King of Staten Island is more effective as a character study than a conventional comedy. Pete Davidson demonstrates his ability to tell a dramatic story, and the movie is very poignant as it delves into its darker themes. However, it suffers from bloat and uneven execution that prevent it from being truly great.

Staff:

Directed by: Judd Apatow

Written by: Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, and Dave Sirus

Produced by: Judd Apatow and Barry Mendel

Starring: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, and Steve Buscemi.

Cinematography: Robert Elswit

Edited by: Jay Cassidy, William Kerr, and Brian Scott Olds

Music by: Michael Andrews

Production companies: Universal Pictures, Apatow Productions, and Perfect World Pictures

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Release date: June 12, 2020

Running time: 137 minutes