MOVIE REVIEW: THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND

Scott has been a case of arrested development since his firefighter dad died. He spends his days smoking weed and dreaming of being a tattoo artist until events force him to grapple with his grief and take his first steps forward in life.

Director: Judd Apatow

Cast: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, Steve Buscemi, Pamela Adlon

Release Date: June 26, 2020

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Rated R for language and drug use throughout, sexual content and some violence/bloody images

Runtime: 2h 16min

Review:

The King of Staten Island offers more than it looks like on its surface.  Sure it’s another Apatow exploration of a man stuck in arrested development but there is a bit more here than usual.  It’s very funny in spots and touching in others with a large part of the pathos coming from Davidson’s proximity to the subject matter.  Since the primary portion of the plot hits close to home for him, his performance is impressive and heartfelt as he avoids any moments of self parody.  It’ll come as a surprise to people who have never seen him outside of skits on SNL, it’s a pleasant surprise but it can’t mask some of the films overall issues. Apatow, after all these years, is still terribly unfocused as a director and it really shows here.  There are multiple sequences that feel like they need some strong edits and tightening overall.  Tone also tends to shift sporadically over the course of the film which lessens the impact of some moments.  Luckily for Apatow his film is stocked with excellent supporting players like Maisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Pamela Adlon and Steve Buscemi.  Together they make the film feel much breezier than you’d expect for a film that’s over 2 hours long.  This film won’t be considered a classic like Knocked Up or 40 Year Old Virgin but it’s definitely one of his better films in recent memory. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: THIS IS 40

THIS IS 40




After many years of marriage, Pete (Paul Rudd) is the sole male in a household that includes his wife, Debbie (Leslie Mann), and two young daughters (Iris Apatow, Maude Apatow). As Pete struggles to keep his record label afloat, he and Debbie navigate a three-week course of sex and romance, career victories and financial hardships, aging parents and maturing children. They'll have to learn to forgive, forget and enjoy the rest of their lives -- before they kill each other.

Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks, Chris O'Dowd.
Release Date: Dec 21, 2012
Rated R for pervasive Language, Crude Humor, Sexual Content and Some Drug Material
Runtime: 2 hr. 14 min.
Genres: Comedy

Review:

This is 40 is Judd Apatow’s 2nd uneven film in a row. Honestly, you might start to wonder if he’s losing touch with the type of humor that really put him on the map. The honestly and crassness is here but it only makes an appearance here and there in between grating arguments between 2 incredibly well meaning leads. The better part of the blame for the faults falls on Apatow who wrote the film. His leads aren’t ever particularly likable and come off as annoying and entitled throughout. A meandering molasses like pace doesn’t help matter either. The film trudges slowly and aimlessly towards an unresolved ending which leaves the audience with questions but so exhausted that they couldn’t be bothered to ask what will happen afterwards. 2 hours plus for a comedy is a stretch at best, something Apatow could get away with in The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up with a better story even then just barely, but here it’s just a drag. The film feels longer than The Hobbit by a mile. Paul Rudd does his best to pull the film out of its doldrums. He and Leslie Mann do share some good comedic chemistry as displayed in Knocked Up but here when it’s front and center for the entire film it makes the entire thing look like a fool’s errand. That’s not to say there are some strong scenes with plenty of laughs because there are. The problem is that there are twice as many scenes of them arguing or fretting about manufactured problems throughout. Mann is likable, she works well as a supporting player but here her acting shortcomings are on full display and her bugged eyed occasionally emaciated figure can start to wear on a viewer. The supporting cast is strong but only Albert Brooks and Melissa McCarthy leave a strongest impression while being thoroughly underused. John Lithgow, Chris O'Dowd, John Segal and Megan Fox are all played for types and given very little else to do. Apatow and Mann’s real life daughters appear again with the Maude screaming her lines, playing on the worse piece of first period humor possible, for the better part of the film with Iris coming off more muted than before. The first hour or so of the film has some steady steam providing a good series of laughs especially for anyone in a long term relationship but the film’s faults start to weigh it down ultimately bringing down the entire production.

C

Movie Reviews: FUNNY PEOPLE

Sunday, August 02, 2009
Movie Reviews: FUNNY PEOPLE
IN THEATERS

FUNNY PEOPLE


Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann star in the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience... and what he does with a second chance. Director Judd Apatow addresses a question that hasn't before been touched with such trademark bluntness: If you had the chance to start all over again, would you be the same jerk you always were?


Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann


Opened ..July 31, 2009..


Run time: 2 hr. 16 min.


Rated R for some sexuality, language and crude sexual humor


Director: Judd Apatow


Genres: Comedy Drama


Review:





Judd Apatow’s third directorial effort is very much like his previous works, filled with rauchy humor mixed with bromance and sentimentality. Apatow take a more slightly more serious tone here dealing with issues of mortality and regret about the choices you’ve made. It’s an intriguing mix and fairly engaging but it occasionally veers terribly close to Lifetime territory. Luckily the sharp comedic dialogue keeps the film entertaining even during its most A Christmas Carol moment. Apatow does occasionally find some authentically poignant moments mainly through some superb work by Sandler. I’ve never been a big fan of Sandler’s movies for the most part but he has shown dramatics chops as shown in Punch Drunk Love. Here, he again benefits from using restraint and he creates a wonderfully layered character that isn’t likeable for the duration of the movie but the audience does feel his loneliness and regret written all over his face. He also delivers plenty of funny lines with such ease that it makes me wonder why he’d stuck to his man child persona for so long. Working as a capable foil Seth Rogan delivers an equally impressive performance as Ira. Rogan gives his character a wide eyed innocence and palpable likeability sans any cynicism. It’s one of Rogan’s better performances in his career thus far and he really outshines everyone else when he’s onscreen. Jason Schwartzman is good fun as Rogan’s working actor roommate. Johan Hill is surprisingly underwhelming here as his lines feel forced when compared to the rest of the cast. Leslie Mann, who’s mostly relegated to the 2nd half of the film, is fun but her character isn’t sufficiently fleshed out enough to allow any depth in regards to her and George Simmons previous relationship. Eric Bana is incredibly funny as Mann’s philandering husband and he unleashes his natural Aussie accent with great effect. There are also cameos aplenty from the comedy and rap world which vary in terms of effect. Some bring some great laughs whiles other feel more like a visual pat on the back. Celebrity cameos are the only case of over indulgence here though. Apatow’s previously films have all been a tad overlong and Funny People is no different. Clocking in at nearly 2 and a half hours it’s a film that starts to test your endurance. Once the action moves to Laura’s home it bogs down and kind of just meanders aimlessly. While it’s not a huge drawback but it does kind of make you wonder what finale Apatow has in mind if any and strangely the ending comes rather abruptly. Regardless of it’s flaws Funny People is an interesting funny and fairly engaging film that shows a bit of maturation on Apatow as a film maker.





B