By Shane Conto
What can we expect whenever a new Judd Apatow flick comes around? You can expect the film to easily reach a two-hour run time (most of which fly past that mark). You can expect laughs galore but also plenty of emotional and dramatic beats to confuse you into thinking that you just might actually be watching a drama and not the comedy you expected. You will also get a lead actor who you may have already decided how you feel about them and then the film makes you question that. Yes…that is a Judd Apatow film alright. The King of Staten Island really hits the nail on the head. Are there some pacing issues over the course of the 136-minute runtime? Are there laugh out loud scenes that capture a relatable situation and run with it? Does the film take the lead on a journey of self-discovery with plenty of fun supporting characters along the way? Check them all! You are most certainly watching a Judd Apatow film.
The first thing to focus on really has to be the humor. This is a FUNNY film.
There are scenes that had me sitting on my couch laughing out loud which would no doubt have gotten the whole theater going (if I was in one). There is a mix of maniac and self-deprecating humor that feels so natural for Pete Davidson to deliver on. There is plenty of brash humor from both Davidson and Bill Burr, who really takes a powerful hold with this role that felt like it was made just for him. Do some of the gags feel like they outstay their welcome? That is for certain. One of those scenes is a funny sequence with Scott, our lead, and friends hanging out at an abandoned playground. The scene has plenty of laughs but just doesn’t know when to end.
Most of the bloat in the runtime can be explained by gags that just go on for too long.
Now there is the drama. The film has an engaging and emotional story about a young man who is in arrested development from being babied after the death of his firefighter father. He does drugs, hangs with his friends, and leads on a young woman who obviously is into him. Davidson really captures this character so well as it helps that Davidson co-wrote this and based much of the story on his own life. Marissa Tomei is excellent as his mom who finds a new man in her life, Bill Burr, due to her own son’s shenanigans. Burr feels like he was born to play this firefighter who embodies the boiling rage and aggravation that he does so well. The journey that Davidson and Burr go on from rivals for Tomei’s attention to being buddies is endearing and moving. Watching Davidson’s Scott get his life together works really well thanks to strong writing and his committed performance.
The one major drawback to the flow of this story as well as a major pacing issue is the inclusion of way too many characters.
Maude Apatow plays the under-developed sister to Davidson who is not used enough to feel essence and who is just dropped off unceremoniously halfway through the film. Then there are Scott’s friends. There is one particular scene including them that is meant to represent “rock bottom” for our protagonist but just distracts from the flow of the film. The tone is way off base for this scene and brings the film to a halt. Without that extra bloat, this could have easily been one of the best films of 2020. In the end, this is a funny and emotional ride that really capitalizes on the passion and humor of its lead.
If you are looking for a strong outing out there in the virtual cinemas right now, you cannot go wrong with The King of Staten Island
Grade: B-