ReelBob: ‘The King of Staten Island’ ★★★½

By Bob Bloom

Scott is a 24-year-old man going nowhere. He lives with his mother on Staten Island and has spent the last 17 years mourning the death of his firefighter father.

“The King of Staten Island” is a story of Scott’s realization about who he is, his place in the world and who his father was.

The movie was directed by Judd Apatow and written by Apatow, Pete Davidson — who stars as Scott — and Dave Sirus.

The movie is a mixed bag of crazy, comedic and dramatic moments that, at times, fail to coalesce. Yet it has a melancholy tenderness that — despite its 136-minute running time — keeps you constantly involved.

Scott is a man-child. He lives with his mother on Staten Island, doesn’t work and hangs out with friends smoking weed.

He wants to be a tattoo artist; his dream is to open a tattoo parlor-restaurant, which — like bologna and mint chocolate chip ice cream — really do not go together.

Scott refuses to take responsibility for anything, using the loss of his father as his crutch for his, as he describes it, mental illness.

He freely admits to his sometime-girlfriend, Kelsey (Bel Powley), that he is sometimes afraid of himself — not knowing what he will do or say.

Scott’s life begins to go askew when his younger sister, Claire (Maude Apatow), whom he uses for support, despite often verbally berating and insulting her, leaves for college.

Scott’s mother, Margie (Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei), works as a school nurse and in the emergency room at a local hospital.

She is frustrated but patient with Scott, who has ADD, making excuses for his acting out and emotionally protecting him as best she can.

“The King of Staten Island” resonates because of Davidson, who has used his personal demons as fodder during his time as a “Saturday Night Live” cast member.

It is popularly known that Davidson’s father, Scott, was one of the hundreds of firefighters killed during the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11.

And Davidson’s own drug problems also have been documented in the tabloids and as comic inspiration for some of the young performer’s “SNL” bits.

Neither Apatow nor Davidson shy away from making Scott selfish, self-absorbed and obnoxious, who will do anything to maintain what he considers his status quo.

Scott’s life really begins to unravel after Margie meets and starts dating Ray (Bill Burr). What is truly painful for Scott is Ray’s occupation — firefighter.

Ray tries to connect with Scott, but the young man continually rebuffs and insults Ray, as well as trying to sabotage his and Margie’s relationship.

Ray works hard to bond with Scott. He invites him to a Staten Island Yankees baseball game where the pair sit with a group of Ray’s fellow firefighters. In a poignant sequence, Scott explains why he believes firefighters, because of the dangers of their jobs, should not marry nor have children.

Later, when Scott hits rock bottom, the same firefighters whom he berated, invite him to stay at the firehouse after Margie — angry with Scott’s actions — throws him out of the house.

There, listening to some of the veteran firefighters tell stories about his dad’s off-duty playfulness, Scott sees his father in a more complete and human light.

Davidson provides a performance that is clownish yet heart rendering. You disapprove of many of his antics, while also understanding his motivation.

He creates a character that you want to see grow, mature and accept his place in the world.

Though it strays at a few points, “The King of Staten Island” is Apatow’s most emotionally satisfying movie in years. He does not offer a happily-ever-after, cookie-cutter ending, but the finale does hint at some hope that Scott is slowly realizing it is time he grows up and truly becomes a man.

The movie is dedicated to Davidson’s father, and he would be proud of his son’s unhinged but loving tribute.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND
3½ stars out of 4
(R), language, drug use, sexual content, violence, bloody images