Once we finish school, go to college, and graduate, we get asked the same question "What are you gonna do with your life," and there's no definitive answer, and this movie establishes how to get on with your life. The 6th directorial effort from Judd Apatow is a mature and radical departure from his comfort zone as a comedic filmmaker. It allows him to tackle a serious story about a man struggling with arrested development and mental illness. Pete Davidson gives a fantastic performance as our main protagonist, who struggles to find out how to move forward with his life. Based on his own life, which included losing his father on 9/11, Pete Davidson is playing himself. He portrays his character with emotions that range from sad, anger, depression, and happiness that allows him to show us that life is not as easy as it looks. Davidson's performance is also elevated by the excellent supporting cast, which includes Marisa Tomei, Maude Apatow (Judd Apatow's Daughter), Bel Powley, Steve Buscemi, and especially Bill Burr. The film's only two negatives, the first half of the film, take a little bit of time to find its footing, but when it does, it works. The second negative is a massive weakness shown in Apatow's previous films. The length of the movie could be an hour and fifty minutes, not two hours and fifteen minutes because it features plot details you don't need or have to not when to end. Regardless "The King of Staten Island" is a fascinating look into a twenty-something-year-old man trying to figure out what to do with his life in this coming-of-age drama. The film also has a great message for young people finishing school, which is that life won't be handed to you on a silver platter and must take on any task even if it looks hard or absolute hate. Thanks to Judd Apatow's excellent direction and an incredible breakthrough performance from Pete Davidson, "The King of Staten Island" gives you a lot more respect for the man himself for being brave to tell his story and announces Pete Davidson to the world as a movie star on the rise.
Comments