If you haven’t found Pete Davidson funny after six years on “Saturday Night Live,” two hours watching his semi-biographical film “The King of Staten Island” likely won’t change your mind.
Apatow’s first film since President Trump’s election wants audiences to relate to and understand the life of Pete Davidson.
Apatow and Davidson try to build sympathy for the character, but Scott discovers that for the first time since his father’s death 17 years ago, his mother has begun to date another man (played by comedian Bill Burr), also a firefighter.
Weak spots: Any sympathy that Apatow and Davidson build early in the movie for this character is erased when Scott lashes out at his mother in a way expected of someone 10-15 years younger.
“The King of Staten Island” may have worked better as a drama than a comedy, but Apatow tries and fails to mix the two genres and Davidson can’t deliver a deadpan dry wit.
