Introduction
Staten Island Summer was released as a comedy film reflecting the coming of age ensemble of people in 2015. While Rhys Thomas had the the privilege of direction, the script was in the able hands of the famed Colin Jost of the Saturday Night Live fame. The movie script loosely draws the picture of the two key characters who for the first time in their lives get the opportunity to spend an entire summer with each other.
Needless to say, the movie does inject an ample dose of laughter into the life of the audience. It has sufficient colors, lights, and laughter to make make the movie a successful projection. It does examine the bond of ‘friendship’, the tough metaramorphoses of life, as well as the fun a ‘youth’ is expected to go through. The narrative is primarily set in a public swimming pool of the Staten Island which makes an earnest effort to use comedy to portray the pleasure and social uneasiness of life.
Plot summary (Clean Version)
The two main characters, we learn, are the best of friends for such a long time. We learn that both of them are high school graduates. Danny is pursuing a university degree and is a high achiever while Frankie is a bit lost in the thinking of the future. While Danny makes plans to go to Harvard in the upcoming fall, Frankie does not share the same sentiments. The two characters are best friends and the bond they share seems to dwindle due to the ambitions of these characters.
Over the summer, the two are employed as lifeguards at the local Staten Island pool where their primary focus is on enjoying and maximizing their last summer before Danny heads off to university. They, along with their team of eccentric friends, participate in the more humorous and unpredictable aspects of their job.
Life at the pool is as fun as it gets. The lifeguards, each with their individual aims as well as goals, approach the summer with their unique personalities. While some enjoy the summer to the fullest and want to do more than just work, others are entirely in it for the wages. As a result, they form a small-scale society which tends to get into hilarious and absurd situations far too often.
Danny’s story is a lot more complicated as it focuses on his long term obsession with Krystal Manicucci and his consequent feelings towards her. While he wishes to share his thoughts with her, his timid and introverted nature makes it a point more than difficult for him to do so. Unlike Danny, Frankie is more of a bold character which is the reason why he tries to motivate Danny to become more outgoing and take more chances just because as he puts it, “You only get one life to live so why waste it on fear.”
As the summer nears its conclusion, the friends choose to organize a large end of summer bash by the pool. Central to the film, the event seamlessly integrates the divergent character plotlines. The celebration captures the spirit of summer, a glorious celebration featuring an abundance of chaotic entertainment, complemented with dancing, spirited vocals, and joyous loud laughter. It signifies the beginning of the end of summer Frankie and Danny’s last days of youth.
Only for Danny to realize at the very end of the film, that he must take opportunities that life, love and friendships throw at him. While Frankie, is confident about one thing – that he appreciates the companionship that he sustains with Danny and, is supportive of his decision moving ahead. The film ends on a profound and optimistic thought, suggesting that despite growing up and taking separate routes on life’s journey, strong, pure friendship never falters.
Main Characters
Danny Campbell (Graham Phillips): A Harverd academic student with the profile of a recondite and sublime thinker which is indicative of his tendancy to plan ahead. A character that showcases the importance of responsibility, and more importantly how the world is how the world expands when its boundaries are crossed.
Frankie Gallucci (Zack Pearlman): Danny’s close pal, enjoys embodying a free spirit. Mankind’s relentless pursuit of laughter is an optimistic endeavor that he fulfills.
Krystal Manicucci (Ashley Greene): The archetype of elegance. Her spirit gives Danny the strength to confront his trepidations.
Anthony Manicucci (Bobby Moynihan): The character who is Krystal’s sibling. His humorous diversion provides mayhem as well as entertainment to the movie.
Skootch (John DeLuca): A lifeguard. He portrays the character who oozes self assurance and adds to the funny side of the movie.
Mr. Manager (Fred Armisen): The pool’s offbeat supervisor who engages in clumsy and humorous attempts at preserving order.
Other Lifeguards and Pool Patrons: A cohesive unit who adds silliness and love to the narrative.
Thematic Elements
Even though Staten Island Summer is a funny movie, there are more serious elements that people of all ages can relate to.
- The Value of Friendship
The primary focus of the movie features the bond shared between Danny and Frankie. Their relationship is characterized by faithfulness, emotional backing, and the creation of enjoyable times. The film goes on to show that regardless of the distance which can arise in the ever-changing lives of these friends, their companionship will always prevail.
- The Value of Responsibility
The summer is a broader imagery of change. To Danny, it marks the conclusion of his childhood and the dawn of life’s responsibilities. For Frankie, there is heavy contemplation about what lies ahead.
- Risk Taking
To take on the challenge of overcoming his sadly limited self perception, expressing his feelings to Krystal demonstrates the willingness to take on risks to move forward.
- Leisure and Community
The pool shows community and social interaction. The people blend on the borders of the laughter and the fights, showing the more sociological side of humanity we commonly see.
- The Acceptation of New Reality
Although school is not the only abroad experience, it is also a strong shift within the self. New job, saying goodbye to something or someone, and new activities we do daily. These steps can be unnatural and difficulty is part of the letting go. The film’s strong moral is to take the leap.
Style and Humor
The movie uses a playful tone and bright colors to illustrate the invigorating energy of summer. The mood is light, and the laughter and overwhelming silliness adds to the overall ridiculousness of the film. Characters that draw the most laughter, such as the crazy lifeguards and pool managers, comic chaos serves to create a strong pool character in the film.
To portray the essences of a summer party, the film does not only add laughter, but also soft cheerful music to the soundtrack. These moments serves to capture the images of happy people who sit on the borders of the pool, deepened in soft light.
Reception
Staten Island Summer was made available online and mostly received positive reviews through word of mouth. While it was not the focus of a large theatrical release, it was appreciated by those who enjoyed the blend of humor and heart.
Critics mentioned that although the movie relied on comedy cliches, it was different because of the cast’s appeal, the summer setting, and the focus on friendship. Audiences enjoyed the fact that the film did not build upon some overarching lofty goal, and aimed simply to entertain.
Conclusion
Staten Island Summer, is more than a comedy featuring lifeguards and pool parties. At its core, it is about the bonds of friendship, the willingness to embrace change, and the excitement of living in the moment. The movie is also filled with lively characters and spirited humor, which along with the themes of the movie captures the bittersweet feeling of growing up and the essence of summer.
The movie is perfect for those wanting a not too serious film that is relaxing and celebrates joy, friendship, and moving on. It also goes to show that sometimes all we need is a heart warming story filled with laughter.
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