Review of The King of Staten Island (2020) by Tvjerry — 03 Jan 2021

Pete Davidson’s first starring role was in Big Time Adolescence, which showcased his solid acting skills. This newer film was created/directed by comedy icon Judd Apatow, but it’s not really that funny.

It’s more of a character drama with Davidson at the center. In a scenario inspired by his own life, he plays a slacker living at home with his mom (Marisa Tomei) and still grappling with the death of his firefighter father when he was seven.

The film rambles thru his days, getting stoned with friends and other useless activities. When mom forms a relationship with another firefighter, it causes the predictable conflict. While the situations are interesting and the cast creates uniformly interesting characters, the focus is on Davidson, who once again demonstrates his undeniable charisma and considerable acting talent.