Movie of The Week Preview: The King of Staten Island
Directed by Judd Apatow, Starring Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Marisa Tomei, and more.
R 2020-Comedy/Drama, Run Time: 2hr 16mins
Can Be Seen On: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Peacock, Youtube, Google Playstore, and Fandango at Home.
Movie Short Summary: Scott has been a case of arrested development since his firefighter dad died. He spends his days smoking weed and dreaming of being a tattoo artist until events force him to grapple with his grief and take his first steps forward in life.
The King of Staten Island was released in the summer of 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic which unfortunately caused it to get swept under the rug for me. I was probably watching Tiger King or The Last Dance or rewatching The Wire again. During this time Pete Davidson was having a hell of a run in the news just making headlines constantly with each new person he would date from Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale, and more. After starting his career in standup and gaining recognition through shows like Guy Code, Wild N Out and Gotham Comedy Live, Davidson was offered a job to join Saturday Night Live as one of its youngest cast members ever.
During his run with SNL, he was able to get cameo roles in films with one being Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader that was directed by Judd Apatow. This is where Apatow and Davidson initially met and together from there wrote the screenplay for The King of Staten Island that is somewhat based on Davidson’s life. Just like character Scott, he is from Staten Island, lost his own father who was a firefighter during the 9/11 attack, and has had his own battles with mental illness. I have been a fan of him being on SNL especially playing himself on Weekend Update like this clip here being the resident young person. I’m excited to see what he will be able to do in a lead role for a movie that is tailor made for him.
To get you geared up for the movie, here are some fun questions to ponder as you watch, and perhaps discuss with friends, family, or even drop a comment on our upcoming review this Monday:
Did anyone have a better run than Pete Davidson from 2018 to 2022? I mean everyday he was on the cover of some pop culture magazine or making headlines.
What is your favorite Judd Apatow movie?
How has the passing of a close relative or friend impacted your life?
So grab your popcorn, get comfy, and dive into The King of Staten Island. It’s a movie that promises to make you laugh, think, and maybe even see the world a little differently. Don’t forget to check out my full review coming next Monday, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Happy watching!