What do you do when you don’t know what you are going to do with your life and you are a high school dropout still living at home with your mother at the age of 24, trying to be a tattoo artist that nobody wants to hire, and your widowed mother wants to start dating again 17 years after losing your father? That’s where Scott Carlin is at in “The King of Staten Island” directed by Judd Apatow and starring Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, and Steve Buscemi . . . It’s based on events of Pete’s real life (who wrote the film along with Judd Apatow & Dave Sirus) and how he deals with the loss of his own father who was a firefighter.
Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) & Margie Carlin (Marisa Tomei). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
We all know Pete as the goofy guy on Saturday Night Live. What you probably didn’t know was that at the age of 7, his father was an FDNY firefighter who died during the call of duty on 9/11. You probably also didn’t know that his mother was a real nurse, just like Margie Carlin and he has a real life younger sister like Claire in the movie. Finally, just like Scott, Pete grew up in Staten Island. Originally intended to be theatrically released in North America, the film was released digitally via video on demand on June 12, 2020 by Universal Pictures.
Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) and Claire Carlin (Maude Apatow). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
I initially expected a film full of comedic antics, and don’t get me wrong, they are there. As you get to know the character and the world around him, you realize the film has more of a dramatic element. You see the deeper side of Scott Davidson. He had spent 24 years of his life seeing the world from the eyes of a man child who never took account for his actions and blamed others to avoid the pain of losing someone he loved. When you spend your whole life looking up to someone and it is taken away, it hurts. Really hurts. It is only through facing the very thing you avoid, that you learn to embrace who you are. By the end of the film, Scott’s eyes are opened and he grows up.
Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) & Margie Carlin (Marisa Tomei). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Earlier during a twitter watch party today hosted by director Judd Apatow and Dave Sirus, juicy behind the scenes facts were tweeted out to eager fans. Below are a few unique tidbits about the making of the film shared during the twitter party about “The King of Staten Island”.
Igor (Moises Arias) , Oscar (Ricky Velez), Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson), Richie (Lou Wilson). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-Igor’s “fake girlfriend” Carley was played by Pete Davidson’s sister Carla Davidson.
The crew behind the scenes of The King of Staten Island. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-Writer Dave Sirus “almost played a hot dog vendor” in the baseball scene.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-Much of the college party scene was improvised.
Kelley (Alexis Rae Forlenza ), Scott (Pete Davidson), Harold (Luke David Blumm). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-Initially, the idea of Scott having hanky panky with Ray’s ex wife Gina (Pamela Adlon) was considered, but to keep the tension up . . . (watch the movie to find out what happens!)
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-Many of the actors in the film were current working firefighters. Pete also enjoyed working with these actors as several were also co-workers with his late father.
Ray Bishop (Bill Burr) and Papa (Steve Buscemi). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-The scene where Ray & Papa talk about love was mostly improvised.
Scott (Pete Davidson) and Papa (Steve Buscemi). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
-Steve Buscemi used to be a real fireman in the 1980’s and helped out as fireman during 9/11.
Maude Apatow and Judd Apatow. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
This wasn’t in the twitter party, but I thought it was great that daughter and father could work together. Fathers have such a great impact on what we do with our lives when we get older. They are our role models. My dad is still my greatest hero. With the film honoring fathers such as Pete Davidson’s father Scott Davidson, I just had to put this picture here.
Margie Carlin (Marisa Tomei), Scott (Pete Davidson), Ray (Bill Burr). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Kudos to the writers Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, and David Sirus in coming up with a film that was both funny and touching at the same time. It’s honest, natural, and just real life.
Kelsey (Bel Powley) and Scott (Pete Davidson). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
All the actors gave brilliant performances. I would not expect anything less from these seasoned actors under the direction of the amazing director Judd Apatow. As much as we all miss sitting in the theatre watching a movie with a giant screen looming in front of us eating our popcorn unmasked with less than 6 feet apart, the film (which was released in the midst of the biggest health crisis in our nation), was shot in such a real and intimate way, that’s it’s perfect in the current pandemic setting of one’s cozy living room.
Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson). Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
The film is currently available on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and several other on-demand platforms. You can own it on digital now by going to the web site below. It will also be available tomorrow, August 25, 2020 on DVD and Blu-ray with plenty of bonus features.
Writer/director Judd Apatow and Writer/actor Pete Davidson. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Official web site: https://www.uphe.com/movies/the-king-of-staten-island
Twitter: @TheKingofSI #TheKingOfStatenIsland
Instagram: @thekingofstatenisland #TheKingOfStatenIsland
Courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment