The King of Staten Island (2020)
“You know, you need to get your shit together. Time is passing by very quickly.” – Claire.
“That’s why I smoke weed all the time, okay? It slows it all down.” – Scott.
The King of Staten Island (2021)
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Written by: Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, Dave Sirus
Starring: Pete Davidson, Bel Powley, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Maude Apatow
One of Hollywood’s kings-of-comedy Judd Apatow knocks another movie out of the park, this time in a heart-warming and revealing collaboration with comedian Pete Davidson. Similar to other Apatow works, the script hums with witty one-liners and effortless charisma from the cast, but it also deviates from a simple comedy by exploring more confronting and mature subject matter.
The King of Staten Island is a semi-biographical take on Pete Davidson’s life. For those who don’t know Davidson, he’s a quirky comedian who joined the Saturday Night Live cast at the age of twenty (one of the youngest cast members ever). Known for his unique look and comedic style, Davidson went on to appear in a number of Hollywood films in supporting roles, and entered the mainstream consciousness when he got engaged to Ariana Grande in 2018. Davidson’s private life has also been discussed at length by tabloid newspapers, most prominently his dependence on medicinal marijuana for pain management (he suffers from Crohn’s disease) and a slew of drug and alcohol addictions contributing to mental health problems. Davidson himself attributes his battles with mental health to the loss of his father, who was a New York City firefighter who died during the September 11 attacks, when Davidson was only seven years old.
Many of these attributes are reflected in Davidson’s character Scott Carlin, a 24-year-old Staten Island native who still lives at home with his mum Margie (Tomei) and younger sister Claire (Apatow – Judd’s daughter), missing his late fire-fighter dad. Scott sits around and smokes weed with his dead-beat friends all day, dealing with his mental health and dreaming of becoming a tattoo artist. However, when Claire moves to college and Margie starts seeing newcomer Ray (Burr), Scott is forced to battle with reality and move on with his life.
First thing to say about this film – it has a really good flow to it. This might seem like a stupid comment, and it’s definitely a secondary consideration for a successful comedy, but it’s actually quite a long film, with a runtime of 2 hours and 16 minutes, so it was a welcome surprise that it doesn't ever seem to drag. The characters, the actors, the script, it all gels really nicely with snappy dialogue and scenes that you’ll feel invested in. Second revelation - Pete Davidson is exceptionally magnetic. I’ve seen his comedy before, so was aware of the quirky charisma he brings to the table, but he was fantastic here. The cynic in me says “he’s playing himself, so of course he’s going to be good”, but not only is he funny, he’s able to tug at your heartstrings with a believable and subtle portrayal of someone dealing with mental health issues. Think Russell Brand with more tact.
The most controversial and unique facet of the film is its exploration of mental health. The comedy is effortless, as always, but Apatow is not known for his nuanced exploration of serious issues. Davidson nails it here though, drawing on his own experiences to present an understated image of someone going through personal problems. It isn’t two hours of him breaking down, or yelling at other characters - he hasn’t made Scott a caricature. Instead, he plays off other characters reactions in the film with sobering self-awareness. Refusing to get more serious with casual girlfriend Kelsey because he “doesn’t even know how to look after himself”, the casual check-ins by his mum and sister throughout the film, his sister pleading for him to “please reply to her texts” when she leaves for college, his constant self-deprecation – it’s all brilliantly presented, and leaves you wanting to give Davidson a big hug.
All of the comedy and drama wouldn’t be possible without the exceptional supporting cast. Marisa Tomei’s resume speaks for itself, and Bill Burr provides another A-list comedian for Davidson to spar with, but the youthful exuberance of Bel Powley, Ricky Velez, Lou Wilson, Moises Arias and Maude Apatow provide the energy that makes this feel like a fun coming-of-age film.
For those that love comedy, but want a movie that makes you think, you won't be disappointed with The King of Staten Island. Davidson is a delight, the script is full of life, and the cast is full youngsters who will go on to bigger and better things. Free up a few hours and chuck this on.
Rating: 7.5/10