when Judd Apatow, as both a director of his own movies and a producer of others, could make unlikely stars out of young actors like Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill. But the jokey riffs here lack the specificity of his funniest work
there are a lot of laughs here; with this richly enjoyable movie, comedy maven Judd Apatow has found a new register to go with his habitual stories of middle-aged angst and disillusion
overall, "The King of Staten Island" offers a simply told and gorgeously acted story which has more charm and heart; this is another unmissable and genuinely heartening offering from the the ever expanding Apatow stable
a dramedy that delivers both laugh-out-loud comedy and entertaining drama; Pete Davidson is a triumph in "The King of Staten Island", delivering plenty of fun R-rated humor in an emotionally compelling story about growing up
a delightfully disheveled coming-of-age story; although "The King of Staten Island" is kind of a shapeless and shaggy character piece, the tone fits perfectly with the main character while not losing sight of the dramatic stakes of the story
"The King of Staten Island" is nothing if not conventional in its arc and themes, and has some of the usual Judd Apatow aggravations, but it's winning: relaxed, generous, suffused with warmth and a surprisingly delicate sorrow