Right mix of charm, raunch
“Staten Island Summer” is a refreshingly old school coming-of-age comedy with just enough raunchiness, stoner humor and otherwise dubious behavior to divert movie audiences weaned on violated pies and superbad high jinks.
This charming, good-natured, often quite funny ensemble piece, set in New York City’s underdog borough, benefits from its heavy “Saturday Night Live” influence: It was cleverly written by “SNL” scribe and the show’s “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost; buoyantly directed by Rhys Thomas, who has helmed many “SNL” episodes and TV specials; produced by “SNL” architect Lorne Michaels (with John Goldwyn); and features an array of “SNL” cast members, past and present.
Evoking such sun-and-fun flicks as “The Flamingo Kid,” “Caddyshack” and the more recent “Adventureland,” the movie revolves around good-guy lifeguard Danny Campbell (Graham Phillips), who wants to enjoy one last summer blast with goofy best pal Frankie (Zack Pearlman) and their coworkers (John DeLuca, Cecily Strong, Bobby Moynihan) at the local pool club. And if said fiesta nets Harvard-bound Danny some nookie with neighborhood hottie Krystal (Ashley Greene), his former baby-sitter and the daughter of a local mobster (Vincent Pastore), so much the better.
The film, receiving a nominal theatrical booking the week before its premiere on Netflix, is packed with a raft of amusing characters and situations that only occasionally wear out their welcome. Although less might have been more for Fred Armisen’s hornet-happy groundskeeper, Mike O’Brien’s Speedoclad pool boss and Gina Gershon’s tipsy cougar, Jim Gaffigan and Kate Walsh as Danny’s needy parents, Katie and Kellie Cockrell as sexy Asian Jewish twins, Will Forte as a living cautionary tale and actor-rapper Method Man playing a formidable ice cream vendor are all fun.
“Staten Island Summer.” MPAA rating: R, for sexuality/nudity, crude humor and language throughout, drug content and partying — all involving teens. Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes. Playing: Sundance Sunset Cinemas, West Hollywood. July 31 on Netflix.