The King of Staten Island Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A man-child living in his mom’s basement finally leaves after his mom’s firefighter boyfriend yells at him enough.

🍿 The King of Staten Island: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Scott’s Life

Scott Carlin, played by Pete Davidson, is a 24-year-old living in Staten Island, still grappling with the death of his firefighter father when he was seven. He’s a high school dropout with aspirations of becoming a tattoo artist, spending most of his days smoking weed with his friends and aimlessly drifting through life. He also secretly hooks up with childhood friend Kelsey, but is afraid of commitment.

Margie’s New Relationship

Scott’s mother, Margie, an ER nurse, begins dating Ray, a divorced firefighter. This deeply disturbs Scott, triggering his unresolved grief and resentment towards firefighters, which he associates with the loss of his father. This new relationship creates tension and conflict within the family, forcing Scott to confront his issues.

Scott’s Attempts at Sabotage

Unwilling to accept Ray in his life, Scott tries to sabotage the relationship, even going as far as to seek out Ray’s ex-wife for dirt. He hopes to drive a wedge between Margie and Ray, but his actions backfire, leading to a confrontation and Margie kicking both men out of the house.

Finding a New Path

Homeless and with his friends facing legal trouble, Scott finds himself staying at Ray’s firehouse. Surrounded by firefighters and stories of his father’s bravery, Scott begins to understand his father’s sacrifice and starts confronting his grief. He also begins to take his tattoo artistry more seriously, using Ray as a canvas.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson): A directionless young man grappling with the death of his firefighter father and struggling to find his purpose in life.
• Margie Carlin (Marisa Tomei): Scott’s mother, an ER nurse, trying to move forward with her life after the death of her husband and navigate her son’s arrested development.
• Kelsey (Bel Powley): Scott’s childhood friend and on-again, off-again girlfriend who desires a serious relationship and pushes him to grow.
• Ray (Bill Burr): A divorced firefighter and Margie’s new boyfriend who clashes with Scott but ultimately helps him confront his grief.
• Claire Carlin (Maude Apatow): Scott’s ambitious younger sister who is leaving for college and worries about her brother’s future.
• Oscar (Ricky Velez): One of Scott’s close friends and partners in crime, who gets shot during an ill-fated robbery.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Scott: “I don’t really have a plan. I don’t really do anything.” – Reflects Scott’s aimless existence and struggle with arrested development.
• Scott: “Firemen shouldn’t have families.” – Said during a baseball game, expressing his deep-seated belief stemming from the loss of his father.
• Ray: “You gotta start taking care of yourself, man.” – Ray’s advice to Scott encapsulates the film’s theme of taking responsibility and moving forward.
• Kelsey: “I just want someone who’s not afraid to be with me.” – Expresses Kelsey’s desire for a genuine relationship and highlights Scott’s fear of commitment.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $35,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $0.7M
• Worldwide Gross: $2.18M

💥 The King of Staten Island Reviews

Personal Review

I went in expecting a typical Apatow comedy, but was surprised by the depth and heart. The film explores grief and arrested development in a very real way. Pete Davidson’s performance felt authentic and I found myself really rooting for his character, Scott. The scene where he finally connects with the firefighters and hears stories about his dad was incredibly moving. It’s not laugh-out-loud funny, but the emotional journey makes it worth watching.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Pete Davidson”
  • “Viewers who appreciate coming-of-age stories”
  • “Individuals interested in films about grief and mental health”
  • “Those who enjoy Judd Apatow’s directorial style”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Drug use”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Some sexual content”
  • “Themes of grief and loss”

Professional Reviews

• CBS Austin: “Apatow is trying to capture something raw and poignant with comedy around it, but it doesn’t quite get there, which it should with a runtime of 137 minutes. Pete Davidson’s acting is fine, but the film starts out with him driving down a freeway with his eyes closed obviously having suicidal tendencies, but you never see him crying or having a breaking point about his father.
• Hollywood Heavyweights: “Though not without its flaws, I can tell You The King of Staten Island is easily my favorite Judd Apatow piece since 2005. The big turning point starts manifesting itself as late as 100 minutes into the movie, and in the end the 2 hour and 17 minute runtime is a little too tall.
• IMDB: “Pete’s story is intriguing and feels completely worthy of a movie like this. Some people wanting a non stop laugh fest maybe not like it, and it does have flaws, but I really enjoyed it. This is probably Judds best movie in 10 years. And I highly recommend giving it a watch.

Audience Reactions

Many found Pete Davidson’s performance surprisingly poignant and relatable.: Viewers appreciated the film’s honest portrayal of grief and the struggle to find purpose.

Overall Consensus: A surprisingly heartfelt and relatable dramedy with strong performances, despite being overlong for some viewers.

Awards

1. Hollywood Film Awards (Hollywood Comedy Award)- 2020

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is semi-autobiographical, drawing heavily from Pete Davidson’s own life, including the loss of his firefighter father on 9/11.”
• “Steve Buscemi, who plays Papa, a veteran firefighter, was a New York City firefighter in the 1980s and volunteered at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks, adding authenticity to his role.”
• “Judd Apatow dedicated the film to the memory of Scott Davidson, Pete Davidson’s father, as a tribute to his life and sacrifice.”
• “Pete Davidson co-wrote the screenplay, infusing it with his personal experiences and comedic style, making it a deeply personal project.”

🖥️ How to Watch The King of Staten Island?

The King of Staten Island is available to stream on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options as well.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The King of Staten Island, you might like these similar films:

• Trainwreck (2015): Shares a similar comedic tone and deals with themes of arrested development and personal growth, also directed by Judd Apatow.
• Good Will Hunting (1997): Explores themes of grief, trauma, and finding direction in life through unexpected relationships and self-discovery.
• Manchester by the Sea (2016): Deals with profound grief and the struggle to find meaning after loss, although with a more serious and less comedic tone.
• Big Time Adolescence (2019): Stars Pete Davidson in a similar role, navigating the challenges of youth and questionable decisions while finding his way.

🛒 The King of Staten Island Related Products

• The King of Staten Island [Blu-ray]: Own the movie on Blu-ray and experience the story in high definition with bonus behind-the-scenes content.
• Staten Island T-Shirt: Show your love for the movie’s setting with a Staten Island-themed t-shirt.
• Tattoo Art Book: A compilation of inspiring tattoo designs that can spark creativity for fans of Scott’s artistic aspirations.
• Firefighter Collectible Figurine: A detailed figurine that celebrates the bravery of firefighters, reminiscent of Scott’s father and Ray.

🎧 Soundtrack

The King of Staten Island features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Just What I Am” – performed by Kid Cudi featuring Chip tha Ripper

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Pete Davidson on Living in His Mom’s Basement & The King of Staten Island

Ever wondered how much of ‘The King of Staten Island’ is based on Pete Davidson’s real life? He spills the beans on living with his mom and casting his family in the film! It’s pretty wild to hear his mom chime in too.

Bill Burr on New Baby & The King of Staten Island

Bill Burr’s in this movie? I didn’t even know! He talks about his role in the movie and how he prepared for it. Honestly, hearing about his firefighter training is pretty interesting.

25 Things You Missed In The King Of Staten Island

Did you catch all the easter eggs and real-life inspirations in ‘The King of Staten Island’? This video points out 25 things you probably missed, including which scenes were improvised! It definitely makes you appreciate the film more.

The Real Reason Pete Davidson’s The King Of Staten Island Was Pulled From Theaters

I was pretty bummed when I couldn’t catch this movie in theaters. Turns out, there’s a whole story behind why it was pulled! It’s kind of interesting actually.

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