The Party Less Than Promised
When ‘Staten Island summer’ was released in 2015, viewers anticipated another raunchy teen comedy like ‘Superbad and ‘American Pie’. This is on the surface, and it is exactly what it delivered two best friends, Danny and Frank, with no idea on the direction to take after highschool, working as gardes. For Danny, it was Cornell, while Frank had visions of Hollywood. To cap off the year, the two friends attempt to plan the largest, most killer party that rose Island Staten was sure to ‘never’ forget. This provided the touch of glam and fanatasy every closing chapter needed.
Sadsh, in this timeless plot, there is little subdued territory to roam. Supporting characters pave the way, consisting of Jill, the dream girl as performed by Ashley Greene, Ant hony, the local comic villainous mobster played by Bobby Moynihan, and the scatter-brained manager played by Jim Gaffigan, who is utterly oblivious to the and it is difficult summers.
Staten Island summer comes off as most interesting with what the people started to say after seeing the movie, not the plot itself. For instance, many followers suggested alternative endings, tied real Staten Island cultures, and what both the cast and crew’s response to all of this was.”
What Fans Have Postulated About The Regarding The Party’s Aftermath
The party being added at the end of the movie as a farewell party became a window of opportunity for fan theorists. Why would hosting such a party be so instrumental during such a mindset of transition to adult life? Perhaps the party was a twilit limbo for transition to adult life. Even Danny during the movie seemed to combat his feelings for idle fantasy when condescended into the decision of telling how he feels to Jill. The feelings some people focus more into would argue that emotions twirl into some sort of remarkable unexcitable love thing. But what they seem to disregard is that he fear of not living to his expectations is what is romance. There are claims that The film Danny would end up being Jill’s movie fantasy husband, but he would get no more than a broken heart.
Another story telling theory was the one about Frank. Many people seem to jump on the fact that his stories of him wanting to be a screen writer was for the purpose of humor. But Frank as an object of the story is more than that. There is an underlining tragic notion of Frank about him never being able to get off of Staten Island. The sad movie that some people kept telling about where he doesn’t go to college and is left on Staten Island for the summer working as some boring lifeguard becomes popular to the idea people have about how life is for him. During summer, no airplane flies up high. Where other people have these vivid daydreams of excitement in the sky, he is trapped in the sad Staten Island.
There was speculation about the ‘mob’ subplot, too. While Anthony’s interferences in the party were mostly comedic, some fans believed there was a darker sense beneath the surface. Staten Island’s culture’s loyalty, power, and intimidation were lurking more in the shadows over the lives of Danny and Frank than the film was willing to show.
What, in particular, does the cast think about these theories?
Interestingly, both Graham Phillips and Zack Pearlman, in separate interviews, came forward with the notion that the film could stand to dig a bit deeper with its darker themes. Phillips, for instance, stated that Danny’s storyline could use a more realistic ending — ‘where summer crushes fade and college pulls people’ apart’ — but then defended the filmmakers’ willingness to retain some aspect of optimism, as this was a summer comedy, after all — ‘certainly not a tragedy.’
On the other hand, Pearlman took a deeper approach with the Frank theories. For instance, he stated in a more humorous capacity that he hopes Frank never makes it to Hollywood ‘because he’d ruin L.A. faster than Staten Island.’ This was an allusion to how Frank’s delusion, for some strange reason, was his greatest contribution, and without it, the film would lose its soul.
Bobby Moynihan, who hails from Staten Island, appreciated the discussions fans had about the character Anthony. To him, the mobster was a satire meant to explain the stigma of Staten Island, though he did admit that every embellished detail was drawn from some reality he had been raised around.
The balancing act of a director
Rhys Thomas, whose work on Saturday Night Live has made him a household name, walked a thin line of truth and lunacy. In the interviews, he stated that the bulk of the strange adventures came from the writers’ own Staten Island experiences – awkward jobs around the pool that never got to the other side, neighborhood hookups, neighborhood conflit. The party, itself, came from the type of grand, wild parties that teenagers fantasize about for years and never got to experience.
Throughout the interviews, he also suggested that other endings to the film were possible. Early drafts had the character of Danny leaving the Island right after the party which, coupled with his quiet farewell to Frank, was deemed too heavy as it accentuated the separation in their predicted paths. Test audiences, however, preferred a less glossy version with a lighter, more celebratory mood, which the last cut seemed to possess more of.
Untold Stories that Fans Have Never Heard Before
The final product may seem like an easy-going summer comedy, but the actual filming is a different story. The weather on Staten Island proved to be unpredictable as well. Outdoor pool scenes were filmed only to be interrupted suddenly during rain times. Graham Phillips later on admitted that filming in those pool scenes during the day long, submerged in chlorinated water, was exhausting and resulted in a terrible sunburn.
Ashley Greene, who gained publicity from Twilight films, was deeply appreciative in the fact that after a massive franchise, she could embroider herself in such a low budget comedy. Greene, during rehearsal, formed deeper connections with Phillips, selling their performances to the audience, despite the lack of scripting for a developed romance.
As much as the final product is outstanding, most of the uniqueness derives from how close the crew was to Staten Island. Many of the crew were Staten Island locals who were able to provide little anecdotes, slang, and peculiarities that were included in the movie. Many of the background extras were also people from Staten Island who wanted to show their community in film, even if it was a bit distorted from reality.
The unexpected popularity of the movie.
In spite of the fact that Staten Island Summer was not widely considered a ‘mainstream comedy’, it was able to cultivate a ‘cult’ following. Teen viewers of the movie enjoyed the way it blended raunchiness with ‘heart’, while Staten Islanders went back and forth about whether it was a true depiction of Staten Island or simply just another stereotype. Fans of the movie actively participated in forums in which they imagined sequels, and alternate edits.
Some even suggested a sequel that was set in the distant future, where Danny comes home from college to find Frank still doing menial jobs, Anthony still running low-level rackets and Jill, who has, in this future, moved on. Others suggested Frank’s disillusionment with Hollywood after making it, while setting the stage for another Staten Island Summer reunion.
The cast, if asked about the sequels comic, would laugh, while at the same time, not completely ignoring the concept. Phillips has stated that he would be curious to find out what happened to the character’s as the movie went on, saying that he wonders if their ‘youthful’ guess would pay off.
A Summer Remembered in Fragments
In retrospect, Staten Island Summer is more than the average teen comedy. It’s a glimpse of the underappreciated borough in Jersey, viewed through a lens of stereotypes, misplaced affection, and humor. While fans tend to get caught up in theories, alternate endings, and hidden meanings, maybe that’s the beauty of the film, it doesn’t try to be conclusive, only unforgettable.
The party ends. The characters move on. The viewers move on, as well. However, the debates, the laughter, and the “what ifs” make sure the Staten Island Summer will be in the audience’s wildest imagination.
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