Judd Apatow knows talent when he sees it. For years, he has made a career out of giving cinematic showcases to comedians. Whether it was Steve Carell in The 40 Year Old Virgin, Seth Rogen in Knocked Up, or Amy Schumer in Trainwreck, he’s shined the spotlight on them, launching the talented actors and actresses to A-list careers. He’s done it as a director, as well as a producer, making his stable of talent truly enviable. Now, he returns to directing with another effort that does just that. The King of Staten Island, like Trainwreck with Schumer, has a script written by its star (co-written here), based on real life. Here, it’s Pete Davidson, and his tragic childhood loss is the basis for a stunningly terrific work. Capturing the pain and the pathos, as well as the humor, that define Davidson, this is not just one of Apatow’s top tier efforts, it’s one of the year’s best films, overall. It’s beyond a home run. This is a grand slam for all involved. The movie is a comedy, though one mixed with dramatic elements, and even a little bit of melancholy. Ever since his firefighter father was called when he was a boy, Scott Carlin (Davidson) has been troubled. Now in his mid-twenties and thoroughly stuck in a perpetual case of arrested development, the act is starting to wear thing. His buddies Oscar (Ricky Velez), Igor (Moises Arias) and Richie (Lou Wilson, TV’s The Guest Book) love him, smoking weed with him and indulging his daydreams about a potential career as a tattoo artist, but his oldest friend Kelsey (Bel Powley), who is secretly sleeping with Scott, keeps thinking he might grow up, which could include a potential relationship. When Kelsey reaches a breaking point with him, that’s just one factor that is about to force Scott to change. Another is his younger sister Claire (Maude Apatow) is heading off to college, something the unfocused Scott could never handle. Throw in his mother Margie (Marisa Tomei) beginning a relationship with fireman Ray (Bill Burr), and Scott may well have no choice but to evolve, and that includes coming to terms with long seated grief, some mental health issues, and a fear of what’s next. It all results in a moving comedy that is a true 2020 highlight. Apatow directs and co-writes with Davidson and Dave Sirus. Supporting players include Pamela Adlon, […]