A pot-smoking layabout is forced to confront his grief over his late father when his mother starts dating a firefighter, his father's occupation.

COMEDY/DRAMA

The King of Staten Island (2020)

Directed by Judd Apatow

Written by Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, Dave Sirus

Starring Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Maude Apatow,
​Bel Powley, Ricky Velez, Lou Wilson, Moises Arias, Steve Buscemi

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Connor Eyzaguirre

September 7, 2020

8/10

Pete Davidson got his big break on Saturday Night Live and has become one of the most likable comedic actors working today. He's been very open about his mental health issues and past suicidal thoughts, and when he announced this semi-biographical dramedy, I think a lot of his fans knew it would be a cathartic experience for him. Davidson co-wrote and stars in the film as Scott Carlin, a pot-smoking layabout with mental issues whose father was a decorated firefighter who died on the job. Davidson's own father was a first responder who was killed on 9/11. The King of Staten Island does a fantastic job of giving Davidson a platform to confront a lot of his baggage.

Davidson and Bill Burr have perfect chemistry. Burr plays Ray, the new firefighter that Scott's mom starts dating. Of course, Scott hates him and wants him gone, so the two men's relationship goes from cordial to hate to mutual respect over the course of the film. While a runtime of nearly two and a half hours wasn't really necessary and a good chunk could've been cut for time, the journey is so entertaining that you don't really notice most of the time. It's essentially a coming-of-age story for a guy who is already in his mid-20's, but who needs a heavy dose of reality.

Judd Apatow was the perfect guy to direct, as he has proven his consistent ability to make laugh-out-loud comedies with a subtle dramatic overtone that keeps everything grounded. The King of Staten Island is one of his best. It's full of relatable, charming characters you can tell were based on real people, and it really showcases Pete Davidson's talent as both a writer and a leading man. I hope he gets a big boost from this.