More serious than we have come to expect from Judd Apatow, this was a film where less would have been more.
The Premise: Directed by Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People) The King of Staten Island centers on Scott (Pete Davidson), a 24-year-old with no purpose or direction in life. He is unemployed and spends his days getting high with his equally directionless friends. Scott lives at home with his mother, Margie (Marissa Tomei), a nurse who has been mourning the death of her firefighter husband for close to two decades. Scott's life is upended when another firefighter, Ray (Bill Burr), begins courting Margie and they decide it is time for Scott to leave the nest.
The 100 Words: More a drama than a comedy, this is Apatow's most mature and thoughtful movie. The cast is stellar, Tomei really shines, but -- like the main character -- the film sometimes feels directionless. I really felt the weight of the overlong 136 minute run time in the first half of the picture. Davidson has acting chops and an inherent charm, but I found Scott tough to root for. He's just not likable and is often downright mean. It's not a bad film, but not a great one either and viewers expecting an Apatow comedy will find fewer laughs than his other films.
What do you think? Reach out to Jason Evans on twitter @JasonDukeEvans to let him know.
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