The movie starts out with this semiconscious insecurity about being about Staten Island. It does that thing where it makes itself cool by trying to play not cool. The accents, the clothing, the way of talking and behaving, all exaggerated and in your face. I always felt like it was being put on. And this carries through the film, constantly justifying it's Staten Island-ness without ever really making one feel a sense of what does make the Island meaningful for its residents. I kept expecting the film to win me over with its love of place but it never gets there, mostly because it's just being so ironically humourous (without actually achieving a real level of funny).
But so much of what makes The King of Staten Island a slog is how little the film makes you care about its lead. I think we are so used to people like him just being the centre of the universe that we don't even bother to make him earn it. But maybe we're moving past that, and guys like him don't get a free pass anymore. Honestly Pete Davidson does what he can with the role but it's just lacking.. well... anything that makes me want to follow his story. And as the film reaches its forced conclusion, needing, I don't know, growth or closure, he ends up with everything working out without earning it.
Perhaps if the film had been a commentary on how guys like him get it all worked out with minimum effort that might have been something. But the film actually feels like it's trying to make him out to be a victim. I feel bad he lost his dad at a young age but literally everyone else in the film has to pick themselves up and make something of themselves except for him. He just gets to exist and ends up getting the girl and the job that is all handed to him without ever truly earning it.
And I was booooored.
The King of Staten Island
Starring: Pete Davidson, Marissa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, Steve Buscemi
Director: Judd Apatow
Writers: Dave Sirus, Pete Davidson, Judd Apatow
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