watch later

Not interested / seen

The King of Staten Island (2020)The King of Staten Island (2020)

The King of Staten Island (2020)

Comedian Pete Davidson finally gets serious in this funny, warm, and deeply personal film about growing up in Staten Island

Comedy, Drama

7.8

movie

United States Japan, United States of America
English
Character-driven, Emotional, Grown-up Comedy
2020
Judd Apatow
Action Bronson, Anthony Lee Medina, Bel Powley
137 min

Synopsis

rotten tomatoes
imdb
wikipedia
Scott has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. He's now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother and spends his days smoking weed, hanging with the guys — Oscar, Igor and Richie — and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey. But when his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter named Ray, it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life.

Our Take

7.8
The Staff

If you’ve seen his stand-up, you’ll know that Pete Davidson likes to make fun of himself. But it’s also true that Davidson is honest. He speaks openly about his childhood traumas and mental health struggles, and this film about his life is no different than his live performances. It’s darkly funny and deeply personal, this time plumbing new depths of his life with the help of director (and patron saint of comedians) Judd Apatow. 

Here, Apatow allows Davidson to hell his story in his own irreverent flavor, all while boosting him with directorial flair and his trademark balance of humor and humanity. A triumphant collaboration between Apatow and Davidson, King of Staten Island is rich with nuanced performances and relatable insights into the life of someone slowly but surely healing from pain and coming into his own. 

Comments

What did you think? Who should watch it?

Next up

More like this in

The Hole (1998)

7.7

In a world where reality crumbles, a water shortage sets the stage for an unforgettable cinematic journey

Made in Hong Kong (1997)

7.5

A nihilistic teen gangster melodrama about abandonment set in 1997 Hong Kong

Language Lessons (2021)

7.2

One of the few optimistic takes on online friendship and technology

Lost in America (1985)

7.2

A hilarious yet depressing satire about leaving it all behind

Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy (2013)

best

8.5

An absurd and endlessly creative coming-of-age story that finds profound meaning in the mess of youth

Y tu mamá también (2001)

7.0

Alfonso Cuarón uncovers the raw desires and thrilling adventures of youth in a sensual and provocative journey through Mexico's landscapes

Die Beautiful (2016)

best

8.1

A poignant and heartwarming Filipino film that celebrates the transformative power of authenticity and resilience

Hyenas (1992)

best

8.4

A striking Senegalese film adapted from a Swiss-German tragicomedy, Hyenas is a haunting journey into the depths of human greed and moral decay

Saving Face (2004)

best

8.0

A landmark feel-good lesbian rom-com turned Asian American family drama, all from first-time feature filmmakers

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

7.6

An action comedy tribute to the earnest and eccentric Nicolas Cage

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw

© 2023 agoodmovietowatch. Altona Studio, LLC, all rights reserved.