The King of Staten Island

Director: Judd Apatow Studio: Universal Pictures

Review: The King of Staten Island
Imagine if a character Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation watches this film, he would have a good laugh and taste at this. Director Judd Apatow offers a good comedy movie everybody needs in order to sweep up the darker days away. The film is practically based on Pete Davidson’s past where his firefighting father died due to the aftermath of September 11 attacks and suffers a disease of ADHD whilst battling depression as a result of his father’s death. The film stars Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, and Bill Burr.

The story centers on the young tattoo artist named Scott whose father died while working as a firefighter, an tragic event that deeply affects him. As he continues to mourn and suffer the loss of his father, he must get his life together in order to accept his father’s death as well as focusing on his future and himself after learning about his mother’s new relationship with the new man, who is a firefighter and the father of a young child whom Scott encountered.

Directing chores for The King of Staten Island, Judd Apatow is widely known for spending much of his time directing The 40-Year-Old Virgin, This is 40, Knocked Up, and Trainwreck under Apatow Productions, a movie company he founded.

As the film progresses, the chemistry between Pete Davidson and Bill Burr becomes the primary focus of the film as the scenes with them really add a nice, touching, but sophisticated relationship compared to any films that feature unhealthy and dysfunctional families. This one is the main trigger for both father and son’s character developments that become the dynamics of the story. At first, their relationship is a bit of a rocky start, but later they start to have a time of their lives.

The film also includes Steve Buscemi, Pamela Adlon, Bel Bowley, and Maude Apatow, the director’s daughter.

This engaging flick really stands out to both fathers and sons out there. I say The King of Staten Island is a great movie for teens and adults out there, if not better. The director has really nailed his role as director like the previous films. It’s not like Trainwreck (a little titular reference right there), it’s just the best way to address one's own subject matter and humanism that can become powerful messages on one’s own depressive experiences. The King of Staten Island really touches me increasingly to be honest. I am heavily surprised that there’s children appearing on screen despite the R-Rated genre for this film, but everything else is pretty spot on. The picture, the quality, and the storyline are such wonderful improvements throughout the whole sequence. I believe if anyone wants to watch this, it’s the best movie for Father’s Day and for a father-and-son outing.


GRADE: B+
(Review by Henry Pham)