The King of Staten Island

FilmComedy-DramaUniversal
Written By Joshua Stanley

Watchability Score

★★★★★★★★★★☆

The King of Staten Island is a heartfelt dramedy about the challenges of growing up, wrapped in Pete Davidson's signature comedic style. While it does dive into mental health themes, it often treats these serious issues with a light-hearted touch, making it both relatable and entertaining.

 

Mental Health Guide

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🩶🩶🩶🩶

In typical Pete Davidson fashion, The King of Staten Island brings a unique blend of humor and heartbreak to the big screen. The film touches on themes of grief, anxiety, and the pressures of adulthood, but it does so through a lens of comedy. While some may argue that this approach trivializes the struggles faced by those dealing with mental health, it’s important to appreciate the way Davidson uses humor to cope and connect. it sometimes leans too much into being comedic and could risk downplaying the serious aspects of mental illness.

 

Potentially Harmful Elements
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  • While the film handles some characters with care, there are moments where mental illness is used as a punchline, which could reinforce negative stereotypes.

  • The movie does oversimplify some issues related to grief and mental health, missing an opportunity for more accurate portrayals.

  • The film touches on these topics, but it does so in a way that feels more casual than it should, diluting their seriousness.

  • While not overtly violent, there are implications connecting grief to erratic behavior, which can be problematic.

  • For the most part, the film is light-hearted and avoids triggering content.

  • Can be a bit trivializing regarding real mental health struggles.

  • This topic is not present in the film, keeping the portrayal relatively safe.

Potentially Helpful Elements
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  • The film accurately depicts the struggles of adult children, showcasing emotional highs and lows that many can relate to.

  • The character's journey towards self-acceptance and healing is genuine, even when the path is rocky.

  • Therapy and support systems are portrayed in a mostly positive light, encouraging viewers to seek help.

  • The emphasis on family dynamics adds depth, showing how important support networks can be.

  • While the film largely focuses on Davidson's character, there are glimpses into different backgrounds.

  • The main characters make choices that influence their fates directly, emphasizing personal agency, which is a strong point for the film.

  • There are no clear resources directed toward mental health support, which would have elevated the film’s impact.

 

Trigger-WarningS

  • Graphic self-harm

  • Mentions of suicide

  • Family trauma

  • Substance abuse

Joshua Stanley

FOUNDER & CEO of LIFESTYLED MEDIA — A filmmaker and photographer by trade, Josh’s focus has always been to communicate clear and compelling stories. As an entrepreneur at heart, his passion is helping new and growing businesses define their brand and build personal connections with their audiences.

https://www.joshuastanley.com
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