The King of Staten Island
2020
****
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, Steve Buscemi, Ricky Velez, Pamela Adlon, Moisés Arias, Lou Wilson
Scott is a sarcastic 24-year-old idler who lives with his mom. When his mom starts dating a fireman, like Scott's father who died on duty, things come to a head. Judd Apatow's delightful slice of life doesn't have much of a story, but it features a group of likeable characters in believable situations. The dialogue is funny and naturalistic and the performances are lively. This comedy provides a nice starring role for Pete Davidson, whose own father incidentally was a fireman who died in 9/11. Like most of Apatow's output, however, it goes on a bit too long.
Trainwreck
2015
**
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, John Cena, Tilda Swinton, LeBron James
Amy is a 30-something journalist who likes to drink hard and sleep around. But what happens when she's assigned to interview a sensitive and single sports doctor? This comedy marks the screenwriting debut of Amy Schumer, but it's very much a Judd Apatow movie (that is, the jokes revolve around sex and substance abuse, and it's too long). As a romantic comedy, it offers nothing new. No matter how original or subversive the set-up may seem, you know exactly how it's going to end. The ending feels particularly unearned when Amy behaves like a selfish asshole throughout the story. There are at least some amusing cameos, such as Tilda Swinton as Amy's obnoxious editor and LeBron James as a more stingy and romantic version of himself.
This Is 40
2012
***
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Chris O'Dowd, Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy, Graham Parker, Albert Brooks, John Lithgow, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow
Pete and Debbie, who we first met in Knocked Up, turn 40. At this stage, they should enjoy the best years of their lives in financial and familial security, but instead they have to deal with the demands of their failing business endeavours, daughters and fathers, and try to find some time for each other. Judd Apatow's melancholic comedy is autobiographical (the cast includes his own wife and two daughters) and it offers some poignant observations about families and long-term relationships but, oh boy, are these characters irritating. Like Apatow's previous works, this is a long and sprawling film which could easily lose several supporting characters (for example, Megan Fox and Jason Segel) and about 30 minutes of its running time. Melissa McCarthy has a hilarious cameo.
Funny People
2009
***½
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Eric Bana, Rza, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow
It's lonely at the top. When George Simmons, a popular comedian, is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, he realises that he has nothing to show for his life, apart from the riches. His new assistant, on the other hand, is a young and idealistic funnyman, just like himself 20 years ago. Fame is a double-edged sword and the two men represent two sides of the same coin. These themes are not particularly new, but Judd Apatow's (over)long autobiographical story develops into a warm, funny and moving study of loneliness and friendship. Like his previous film Knocked Up, this is a raunchy comedy with a very conservative undertone; the jokes revolve around frivolous sex and masturbation, but everyone's ultimate goal is to live in a meaningful monogamous relationship. Eric Bana, who plays the husband of George's old flame, gives a forgettably hammy performance.
Knocked Up
2007
***
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Harold Ramis
A career woman celebrates a promotion and in a late night drunken haze she sleeps with a jobless stoner who gets her pregnant. In the following two hours this mismatching couple try and get to know each other and prepare themselves for parenthood. This foul-mouthed hit comedy is quite funny and moving, if you can accept the laughably implausible and suprisingly conservative set-up.
