Scott (Pete Davidson), 24, a depressed tattooist whose father died 17 years ago, lives with his mother, Maggie (Marissa Tomei), who now lives at home on Staten Island in New York.
His life was stagnant, he never saw hope, and it was time for a change.
In Last Month's Empire, Judd Apato said he was increasingly trying to get to the tone that shaped his films, both fun and dramatic. — Best known for hal ashby 's work ( Existence , Harold and Maud ) and James Brooks ( Dear Relationship , Radio News ) .
But Apato's films are never just comedy (and that's not to say there's anything wrong with comedy).
His first film, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, was an open-air film, but very homely. Since then, all of his films — from "One Night Belly" to "The Wreckage of Life" — have been filled with tears and laughter.
But his latest work, The King of Staten Island, is somewhat serious.
Pete Davidson of Saturday Night Live is the film's co-writer, producer and star, and his own upbringing has had a huge impact on the film.
How much you like it depends on how passionate you are about Davidson, who is a bit like a blank canvas, partly for plot reasons and partly not.
His character, Scott, suffers from attention deficit disorder, is both stubborn and numb, and cannot commit to a relationship, a job, or an adult. Self-loathing and self-destructive, he had to smoke marijuana to get through the time.
He may or may not be a talented tattoo artist, but when he gets a tattoo on a small child's arm, the boy's father, Ray (comedian Bill Burr), is enraged.