Terry Roehrig II

24 May 2012

A funny look at how difficult translating American culture can be

You don't have to be a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond to enjoy thisdocumentary. They don't go behind-the-scenes of the show, pick it apartand have interviews with the cast and crew. In fact, no one from thetelevision show even appears in this documentary. OK, that's nottrue... Ray Romano does appear in the closing credits briefly. This isa documentary about two very different countries working (and fighting)together to (hopefully) provide joy and laughter to people of adifferent culture.Philip Rosenthal is the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond. It was (andstill is) very popular here in America. It was on the air for nineyears in prime time (1996 - 2005) and still plays in syndication onseveral networks today. Philip is married to Monica Horan (she playedAmy, Robert's on-again-off-again girlfriend, on the show) and we seeher briefly giving Phil all kinds of hugs and kisses before he departsfor Russia to translate his show for their country. Some things welearn about Phil before he even leaves is that he's a bit of a nervousfellow. He reminds me of Woody Allen and just how unsure he is abouthimself and just what exactly he is doing. You would think that a manthat's created a hit television show would have an air of arrogancethat surrounds him, but Phil is anything but. He's smart, funny andwitty. He certainly seems approachable... that is, if he hasn'tconvinced himself that you're a crazy, deranged fan or some sort ofterrorist. Phil is his own worst enemy when it comes to random thoughtsand for some reason, he always seems to think the worst. You'll seewhat I mean when he explains what K & R insurance is.When Phil gets to Russia, he is thrown directly into the mix with thewriters, producer and director. He has his own translator, Marina, andhe only trusts her when it comes to people speaking for him. Elena, thecostume designer for the Russian series doesn't like the fact that Vera(in Russia, Debra's name was changed to Vera) had to wear everydaycommon clothes. Phil tries to explain to her that women doing laundry,scrubbing dishes and cleaning the house don't wear cashmere sweaters,but Elena tries to get Phil to understand that Russian women watch TVshows for fashion as much as they do for entertainment. Many of thesesituations rear their head and you can tell that it gets to be somewhatfrustrating to Phil, yet he always keeps his calm and doesn't blow up.Another major issue they have is casting. Phil is not surprised to findthat heads of network are pretty much the same no matter where you go.If you really like a certain person, chances are the network head isgoing to have something to say about it and will deny your request justto show you how big and powerful they are. A rather funny bit comeswhen an actor to portray Raymond is hired and Phil just doesn't likehim at all. Some interviews are shown with other writers and they allpretty much have the same thing to say -- "I wish Phil was happy aboutour choices". They even tell him at one point to just nod and smile...and he actually does. I'm sorry, but if I were Phil, I would have justabout lost it at that point. That takes some serious nerve to sit thereand tell the creator of the show to just go with it.It's a funny documentary that shows you how some things just can't betranslated from America to other cultures (half a word jokes apparentlydon't work in Russia) and how other things are just universal(marriage, family). Phil even gets to tie up a loose end with hisdriver near the end of the documentary. He was very worried about himand that act of kindness just shows you how heartfelt he can be and italso shows how he couldn't blow up at anyone no matter how frustratedhe gets.Final Grade: A-

24 May 2012

Its a documentary!

I didn't realize this was a documentary but luckily it's very funny. I'm not a fan of the show so I'm not biased in my assessment; the guy (is it Phil?) is extremely funny in this documentary. Everything comes together well and reveals the cultural divide between the US and Russia that most people don't bother to know or look up. It also reveals the cultural similarities, the universal nature of comedy, and the unnaturally unfunny/sense of humor-less types of people involved in creating comedy both in Russia and the US.

23 May 2012

EXPORTING RAYMOND - a timeless must have!

EXPORTING RAYMOND is one of the (if not the) funniest documentaries I've seen in my life. Phil Rosenthal is genius, understated, and his timing is perfect. This is such a wonderful mirror on our culture and cross cultures in a series of unexpected adventures as we follow Phil over to Russia to export his tv show (which is the #1 most successful syndicated tv show in history), over to Russia. Language barriers, cultural nuances, different perspectives, etc., make for a hilarious journey. The film has been cleaning up "Audience Awards" at festivals across the world, including at HATCHfest, where I saw it. I highly recommend this film as a purchase for your permanent library as it is and always will be timeless. I loved the movie! I also read that the dvd will also include 2 Russian episodes of the translated version...which should be fascinating to see too.

22 May 2012

A hysterical look at cultural differences -- you cant make stuff like this up!

Phil Rosenthal's mission to Russia is an eye-opener. The people he confronts, the situations he navigates, and the perspectives it give us into life in Russia is laugh-out-loud funny. I saw the film weeks ago, and just thinking about it makes me smile again. Whether your are a "Raymond" fan or not, (Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Series), you will enjoy watching Phil's real-life journey, and seeing comedy, television, and the media unfold through the unique Russian lens.

planktonrules

21 May 2012

Hilarious? Not really....but it is interesting.

Philip Rosenthal wrote and produced the TV show "Everybody LovesRaymond". Now that the show has run its course in the States, Rosenthalis trying to sell the idea of the series to the Russians. The problemis that the cultures are very, very different. What's funny in Americaisn't always funny in Russia and vice-versa. As "Raymond" wasn't asbroadly written as some more successful comedies in Russia (such as"The Nanny"). And, in addition, so often Rosenthal has no idea what'sgoing on when he visits the country--so much gets lost in translation.I noticed that another reviewer found this documentary hilarious. Well,I didn't--and this isn't a complaint, really. It is occasionally droll.But what I think is that the film is insightful and gives the viewer alook at cross-cultural differences--and that's what I appreciated aboutthe film. Not a must-see, but very enjoyable. And, in some ways itreminds me of the Albert Brooks film "Looking For Comedy In The MuslimWorld" combined with an episode of Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimern'sshows on travel and gastronomy. Rosenthal just visits with variousRussians and films whatever happens--for good or bad. Interesting.

bdgill12

20 May 2012

Nothing Special But a Worthwhile Documentary with an Interesting Subject

In 2005, Everybody Loves Raymond wrapped up its ninth and final season,taking its leave after 2010 episodes which led it to become one of themore beloved shows of the era. It was a show that highlighted the upsand downs of every day, married life, a topic which obviously thegeneral public related to. Seven years later, you can probably turnyour television on right now and find a syndicated episode of Raymondsomewhere. Shortly after the finale, show creator Phil Rosenthal wasapproached by a SONY representative and asked to help the Russiantelevision network create a native version of Raymond. Rosenthalbrought along a film crew to document the events, revealing that comedyisn't quite as universal as we might expect.I'm not sure exactly what Rosenthal expected from his trip abroad butit becomes quite clear early on that he wasn't prepared for thisundertaking. He is thrown for a loop when he discovers that he has toinvest in Kidnapping and Rescue Insurance, an issue he is assured nevercomes up; he astutely points out that if it "never" came up, therewould be no need for the insurance. Upon arriving, he meets up with hisprivate security guard/driver and their exchange soars right past the"awkward" stage and borders on becoming "tense." He is undoubtedly astranger in a strange land and it only gets worse from there.Later, Rosenthal is brought to the studio (which literally looks likeevery depressing, dilapidated building you've ever seen in a Hollywoodversion of Russia) and introduced to the crack team of writers and crewhe will be working with. They show him clips from American shows thathave previously been remade and he is given a glimpse into whatRussians find funny. In my opinion, this was the best part of theentire documentary. Rosenthal is shown a clip from the Russian versionof The Nanny, one of the most successful programs ever, which was trulyatrocious. If, like me, you believe there is no lower form of "comedy"than Fran Dresher and The Nanny, then allow me to burst your bubble:judging from the 30 seconds shown in Exporting Raymond, I would say theRussian version is approximately 37 times worse. That exact sentimentis written in bold across Rosenthal's face as he looks around the roomat his laughing coworkers and realizes he's bitten off far more than hecould possibly chew. It is moment that is both hilarious and a littlebit heartbreaking.As Exporting Raymond progresses, we see more and more conflicts unfoldfor Rosenthal. The casting process alone turns out to be a major hassleas the actor Rosenthal wants to play the Raymond character is unable toget leave from his theater company and he is replaced with an actor whoappears to be the Russian equivalent of Paul Walker in terms of actingability. To top it all off, Rosenthal doesn't get along with thedirector of the pilot episode, who seems to regard him as a nuisanceand refuses to listen to his advice, which is, of course, the onlyreason he was brought in.The greatest strength of Exporting Raymond is its ability to point outthe dramatic differences between the Russian culture and our own with asimple, understated style. This is a, "Let the camera roll and see whathappens" sort of documentary and there's very little in the way orpost- production or narration; rather, for the most part, the audiencesees what Rosenthal sees and his reactions which are generallypriceless. There are times when the film loses focus and becomessomewhat dull and even at its best, there's nothing excessively funnyor definitively special about Exporting Raymond. But it still serves asa quirky, fun, and moderately insightful piece of work that is worth aviewing if for no other reason than to experience Rosenthal'sdumbfounded facial expressions for yourself.Please see my reviews at thesoapboxoffice.com

19 May 2012

If you want to see how Russian TV works, this is your film

Sometime after "Everybody Loves Raymond" went off the air in America, series creator Phil Rosenthal was asked to help with a Russian version that would be called "Everybody Loves Kostya." This is a documentary Rosenthal shot about that journey. The big (and sometimes funny) thing is that there are cultural differences between the two countries...duh.Rosenthal is intent on transferring American values and his idea of what is funny, to the Muscovites whether they like it or not. From my perspective his intuition and insights are correct, but the Russian television industry is slow to accept them. Some of the best scenes are actually when Rosenthal interacts with the regular people. He becomes fond of his driver/bodyguard who may or may not have a serious health issue. There is also a cute scene when Rosenthal visits one of the producer's home for dinner. The extended Russian's family is there including both sets of in-laws. Eventually they hook up with Rosenthal's parents via Skype. Some things are the same. Interestingly enough Rosenthal spends little time talking about or reminiscing about his young female translator who is with him constantly. What's that all about? Ultimately this is a vanity production that would have been better served as a segment on "60 Minutes."The Blu ray is a 1080p transfer with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Different video components are used in the making of the film, so there are variances in the quality of the video. Nothing is objectionable or distracting. The audio is DTS-HD MA 5.1 and again, it's fine but it's a documentary about making a TV show, so there's not much going on in the extra channels.

19 May 2012

Exporting Raymond

This review is from: Exporting Raymond (DVD) Having recently returned from a trip to Russia, I found this fascinating and very accurate. The scenery is beautiful and the story really interesting.

17 May 2012

Great Movie

I saw this based on a podcast interview and really enjoyed it. Showed the cultural differences in a really humorous way.

17 May 2012

Comedy isnt always pretty especially when youre trying to translate it to another culture and langauge

Comedy is always a challenge in your own language much less another language. This documentary about the attempt to create a Russian counterpart to "Everybody Loves Raymond" by Phillip Rosenthal is a fascinating and amusing glimpse into how cultural and comedy don't always translate well.Along the way Phil learns a bit about himself, so does the cast and crew. Collaboration between unwilling partners is always a touchy business especially if you feel that the person brought in to help create a show is telling you how it hsould work in YOUR culture. It takes Phil a little while to figure out that while the show is his he has to somehow let go of his preconception of what the show SHOULD be about and still allow the Russian writers to make it about themselves.Initially it appears that Phil and the writers/director/cast just don't connect. It's like putting together two builders with different blueprints working on the same house.Comedy isn't always universal. Surprisingly the show works after they eliminate certain people who don't appear to understand comedy.This is a very enjoyable comic documentary the only disappointment I felt was with the special features--Phil provides the commentary track and, really, he isn't able to give us any more insight beyond what he provides in the movie itself. The contrast between the American version and the Russian version of the show is a bit instructive but we kind of get the jist of that from watching the documentary. It's still kind of interesting although comparing the pilot vs. later episodes of the series might have been a bit more interesting.We get deleted scenes as well as a short "Jews Telling Jokes" where Phil's dad gets to be center stage."Exporting Raymond" is a rather wry comic documentary. The end credits includes footage that didn't make the movie including a scene of Ray Romano star of the original series which is amusing as well.

15 May 2012

Blu-ray Awesome film but you also get 2 episodes of Everybody Loves RaymondEverybody Loves Kostya in HD!

Phil Rosenthal, he is the creative mind and writer of the TV series "Everybody Loves Raymond".The television show that dominated ratings, won multiple awards from 1996 through 2005 and is based on the real-life experiences of actor Ray Romano and Rosenthal.And for many popular series, they tend to receive adaptations for other countries.So, right after the series ended, Sony's Russian division had wanted to make a Russian adaptation for the series titled "Everybody Loves Kostya" and what best than to showcase the making of a series overseas than to document it and it is what Phil Rosenthal did in "Exporting Raymond".The film received multiple awards at various film festivals in 2010 and 2011 and now it will be released on Blu-ray on August 2, 2011 courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.The creator behind the popular sitcom was called into become a consultant for the Russian version and we watch as Phil Rosenthal is briefed by his American counterparts in Russia but quickly learns the differences between American and Russian culture.For Rosenthal, his thinking is that the themes that made "Everybody Loves Raymond", the squabbles between husband and wife and families applies everywhere around the world.But for Rosenthal, on his first day of meetings, he quickly learns that the Russians are having difficulty understanding him. For one, the costume designer for the Russian adaptation wants to make the characters fashionable as Russia takes its pride from things looking stylish. But for Rosenthal, because the sitcom takes place at home and not outdoors, there is no reason for the characters to be stylish. And its the first conflict he has with the Russians.The next meeting continues to show conflicts as the writers for the show have problems taking the American style and providing it for an Russian audience and the writers feel there needs to be a change. Of course, Rosenthal doesn't see why the show needs to be changed. The squabbles between husband wife is worldwide and there is comedy in that. But of course, he feels that because his writers are young and single, they don't understand.With Phil feeling a bit disheveled the longer he stays in Russia and people on the Russian side of the business not understanding or communicating with him, fortunately he finds people to confide in such as his Russian translator and his driver (a former soldier/bodyguard).But what if Phil takes a different approach by trying to understand the Russian people and learning about the differences in their country versus how things were done in America. Can he make it happen or will a Russian version of "Everybody Loves Raymond" end up being a failure?VIDEO:"Exporting Raymond" is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:78:1). It's important to note that the film was not created with a huge budget or big production. It's shot in a documentary style format where it follows Phil Rosenthal and gives us a glimpse of his meetings and his time in Russia. I get a feeling that present with Phil in Russia were probably one cameraman and one person recording audio.But unlike a documentary, there is also a scene in a music video-esque style when Phil learns that Russia loves Britney Spears and then we see a montage with CG and stylish effects showing up around Rosenthal to the tune of Britney Spears' "Toxic".Most of the video was shot during the cold winter and while there are some scenes where yellow and red tend to pop, picture quality is good for the most part considering the locations where he had to visit. I didn't notice any artifacting or banding but for the most part, for this type of film, picture quality was very good.Where PQ does make a difference for me was the special features as we get to see two episodes each of "Everybody Loves Raymond" as well as "Everybody Loves Kostya" in HD.AUDIO & SUBTITLES:"Exporting Raymond" is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD MA and its important to note that this film is primarily dialogue-based. Granted, there are scenes with crowds which lend to the ambiance of the film but the only time where the sound becomes more punchy and sticks out is during the musical segment of Britney Spears "Toxic" playing. But for the most part, a film such as "Exporting Raymond" is going to be front and center-channel driven and the lossless audio fits this film very well.Subtitles are in English, English SDH, Spanish and French.SPECIAL FEATURES:"Exporting Raymond" comes with the following special features: Commentary with Writer/Director Philip Rosenthal - Audio commentary with writer/director Philip Rosenthal. Audio commentary is hilarious but also gives us an idea of his thoughts of certain scenes and how he felt at the time and in retrospect. Deleted Scenes - (11:16) Featuring nine deleted scenes. Everybody Loves Kostya - Russian Episodes - Featuring two episodes "Baggage" and "The Family Bed" of "Everybody Loves Kostya" presented in HD and in Russian with English subtitles. Everybody Loves Raymond - American Episodes - Featuring two episodes "Baggage" and "The Family Bed" of "Everybody Loves Raymond" presented in HD. Old Jews Telling Jokes: "Restaurant" By Max Rosenthal - (1:15) Featuring Max Rosenthal telling a joke. Theatrical Trailer - (2:26) Featuring the original theatrical trailer of "Exporting Raymond".JUDGMENT CALL:I was a big fan of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and the thought of seeing a Russian adaptation of the series definitely piqued my interest. But most importantly, the trailer alone and seeing a taste of the challenges that series creator/writer Phil Rosenthal had to face definitely made me want to see this film!It was good to see how American adaptation of shows such as "My Dream of Jeannie" and "The Nannie" doing so well in Russia. But adaptations from one country to the other is a hit or miss.For example, BBC had "Coupling", when it aired on BBC, I was raving about this series and when it was announced that an American adaptation would be made. At first I was skeptical but I figured, can a show about sex make it in America? And sure enough it flopped, meanwhile another show that aired around the same time in the UK titled "The Office" did magnificent in America.So, sitcom adaptations are tricky and when "Everybody Loves Raymond", a series that is about family dynamics, makes sense to us in the U.S., in other countries, the comedy may fly over the head of a person.So, take for example the argument about the fashion that Rosenthal had to understand. Why is the leading lady not dressed up? Rosenthal argues that most people don't dressup in their home and his argument is valid as I have known more than enough women who rather wear sweats or shorts than being decked out in expensive clothing here in America.But in the opposite spectrum, I have known women in Japan to France who do dress up daily even at home. Where the leading lady of "Everybody Loves Raymond" is a wife and hardworking mother, we know the character of Debra who doesn't let Raymond walk over her. She is vocally strong and doesn't let the husband get away with things...while in other cultures, the men are the boss of the house and women just listen and show no independence.And thus, the cultural conflicts that do come into play.Personally, I am not a Russian verite when it comes to pop culture but watching "Exporting Raymond", I had a chance to see how things operate in the country. Writers, directors and crew are not focusing on one show, they have multiple shows to work on. So, that is one surprising factor where I can see communication especially from an outsider, a foreigner, an American coming into a country and telling Russians how things should be. Sure, Phil Rosenthal is the creator of the series, so its important to hear him lend his consulting advice to the Russian directors and writers and other crew.But while watching this film, I was surprised to hear about the difficulty when it came to getting permission of hiring an actor to other nuances that are on both side of the spectrum. Adaptation of one series for another country is never easy. Sometimes things come out quite differently in the end (which are quite evident in film adaptations from popular films from other countries given a Hollywood approach)."Exporting Raymond" is a film that I absolutely enjoyed because we learn about the journey that Rosenthal had to experience. If you love "Everybody Loves Raymond", you understand how he feels when the Russians want to make things different. But even cultural differences aside, Rosenthal knows what is funny, what makes him laugh and can tell when it doesn't work. He doesn't have to be Russian and he knows it, his American contacts from Sony in Russia know it but because things are done differently, you have to accept how things are and put a smile on your face and let them run with it.But as for the Blu-ray release, this is where my appreciation for this film comes into place. Sure, the PQ and AQ are very good but considering this is not a big-budget Hollywood film but a film that is documentary-like, I was quite pleased with the over quality. But what I was even more pleased was the inclusion of two episodes of the Russian version of the series titled "Everybody Loves Kostya" (with English subtitles) and sure enough, I enjoyed them!Sure, there are differences but there are also similarities between the US and Russian version of the series but I was quite pleased to see that the casting of the Russian adaptation actually worked (because in the film, casting was quite literally a pain in the ass) in the end.And of course, for comparison, we also get two episodes from "Everybody Loves Raymond" so one can compare the "Baggage" and "The Family Bed Episodes" of both the US and Russian versions. But also, if you are a fan of the series, getting a chance to see "Everybody Loves Raymond" on Blu-ray and makes you wonder, if a series can look this much better than its DVD counterpart, then by all means, I'm ready to upgrade a lot of my TV series to HD because it looked very good on Blu-ray!Also, there are a good number of special features included, especially the audio commentary which is worth listening to. But for any fan of "Everybody Loves Raymond", for me it was a huge plus to have the two Russian episodes included. That was wonderful!Overall, "Exporting Raymond" shows us how adaptation of a series can be complicated for both parties.Cultural differences definitely makes things more difficult but what Rosenthal was trying to drive into the minds of his Russian counterparts that by the end of the day, there are family issues that can be seen as funny. Issues between husband and wife can be funny especially if you are living in another country. While communicating that may not be easy, in the end, especially in this case of "Everbody Loves Kostya", it all came in place, especially since the Russian adaptation has become the #1 series in Russia and other countries may be interested in doing their version as well.If you enjoyed "Everybody Loves Raymond" and the work of Phil Rosenthal and want to see the journey he had to take to Russia and the challenges he endured but to watch and also laugh, you can't go wrong with "Exporting Raymond". Witty, fun and highly enjoyable, this one is a worth watching!

15 May 2012

Funny .. just like the show!

This movie/docucomedy is quite funny.. especially if you spent any time in Russia trying to accomplish something "American" People you work with are usually late (sometimes hours) , forgetful (intentionally) , not able to get on the "team" but enough of that!Just sit back and you'll have a fun and a cultural look at Slavic Hollywood. I love the culture but the Russian people usually have an entirely different work ethic than Americans.Philip Rosenthal is just naturally funny and his self deprecation in a machismo society makes him even better.Throw in the "lost in translation" aspect and you've got a very enjoyable little piece.

FilmRap

13 May 2012

Phil Rosenthal made an hilarious documentary.

If you know anything about the successful TV series Everybody LovesRaymond , you know that the co-creator writer/producer of this classiccomedy show that ran 9 seasons was Phil Rosenthal. So much of the humorof it came from the observations, sensibilities, family experience andsense of humor of this young man. Therefore when SONY pictures and theRussian TV network decided they wanted to make a Russian version ofthis hit TV series, they decided to invite Phil Rosenthal to come toRussia and advise the writers, directors and producers how to pull itoff. However, SONY also thought it would be a good idea if Rosenthaltook a film crew with him to document the entire process. The result isa hilarious, insightful and very fascinating look at Russiantelevision, Russian family life and the Russian sense of humor or lackthereof. It also shows how all of the above in many ways are quitedifferent from it's American counterpart but yet beneath it all arequite similar. The success of this very funny documentary (how often doyou see a funny doc?) is Phil Rosenthal. He is not only thewriter/producer/director and star of this masterpiece but it is hissense of humor and timing, which carries this film. He was present atour screening and claimed he had a great deal of luck and just happenedto be there filming at the right moment. There were a few spontaneousencounters caught on film with Rosenthal's parents and it was ELR allover again. The initial attempts to remake some of the originalprograms in Russian were wildly funny as the show was suffering in itscultural transplantation. The Russian writers, directors and involvedin the making of the show were hard to believe but were quite real.There was the humorless Russian network Director of Comedy. There was acostume designer who believed it was the purpose of a TV comedy to showgreat trends in fashion even when depicting a typical housewifecleaning her home. In the end Everybody Loves Kostya is now the numberone TV show in Russia. This documentary will be released in April andmay fall between the cracks but it should definitely not be missed. Youwill laugh, come away with not only a lighter heart but also with adepth of insight and respect for an incredibly complex process (2011)

13 May 2012

a very relatable journey in a very foreign land

i saw this documentary in the theater as i was (still am) a huge fan of the TV show. Though you absolutely don't need to be familiar with the TV show to thoroughly enjoy it, i think it makes it even funnier. i think everybody can relate to a story where you are trying to convey simple ideas and simple concepts with your best will and patience and you can't get through anybody, you only get to frustration and bewilderment. then you start trying to understand who you're dealing with in order to break through the culture clash. This clash is conveyed honestly and skillfully and that's what makes Exporting Raymond so hilarious and enjoyable to watch. i feel i've been to Moscow and back and only paid the price of a movie ticket.

12 May 2012

Hilarious! Smart and Sassy

"Exporting Raymond" is a most entertaining and comical view of the culture clash of bringing a highly successful American TV show, "Everybody Loves Raymond", to be recreated in Russia with Russian actors, Russian crew and Russian sensibilities. The result of following creator Phil Rosenthal through his trials and tribulations is hilarious! Not your typical documentary, this movie shines with humor, most often unintentionally, while dealing with the various real-life characters, American and Russian, in this slice of Phil's life. "Exporting Raymond" is a real treat, whether or not you're familiar with the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond".

11 May 2012

A balance between interesting and annoying...

I must say that the cultural differences are fascinating!!! From that perspective, this film is very interesting. On the other hand, Phil Rosenthal is so INCREDIBLY condescending and annoying, that this is a difficult film to watch. To be fair, I should mention that I find the American version of this show equally annoying.....almost as much as the creator. I agree with the Russians that this is simply not a good show. If we're going to export comedy, why not something that has more layers of comedy or even simply more less stupid...."The Simpsons" comes to mind as something that, while not as good as it used to be, is still very smart. How about something like "The Office" or "Arrested Development" or "Archer" or "Friends" or "Big Bang" or classics like "I Love Lucy" or "Star Trek" or "Twilight Zone"........or a test pattern. It's embarrassing that a show this bad is being exported, and that the idiot culpable had the nerve to treat the Russians with such condescension. What an embarrassment.

DirkesDiggler

08 May 2012

What a documentary should be!

I know what you're thinking. "But I don't like 'Everybody Loves Raymond! Why would I want to watch this?" To which I reply, to your first point, "You are an asshole. It is a very good show, stop being an elitist prick and just enjoy yourself!" To your second, I reply, "You want to see this because it is, quite frankly, one of the funniest, sharpest, and completely entertaining documentaries I've ever seen." This is, in my opinion, the best documentary of the year. We follow Rosenthal from the original idea to the other side of the world as he tries to tune his show to fit the Russian sensibility, work in a creative environment that makes no sense to him, and deal with the absurd logistics of working in Russia.I cannot count the number of absolute laugh out loud moments in this film. Be it dealing with the new head of network comedy (a man who knows a significant amount more about lasers than comedy), trying to get the head of the Moscow Art Theatre to allow one of his actors to appear in the show (The Moscow Art Theatre is where Stanislavski did his writings on "the method," and Chekov premiered "The Seagull"), or attempting to translate the delicate physical comedy of a nut shot this movie has no shortage of genuinely funny moments. (At one point a joke about a "Fruit of the Month Club," had to be changed to "Water of the Week" because there is no "Fruit of the Month Club" in Russia… but apparently "Water of the Week" is a booming industry.) There are some touching scenes as well, Rosenthal bonding with his bodyguard (who would have preferred to have spent his life writing about sea shells), and spending an evening with a Russian family (and seeing just how similar we really are) add a nice emotional weight to the otherwise light proceedings.You could not write comedy this brilliant or moving. The film basically asks the question, "How difficult is it to let go of something you spent years of your life creating and let someone else make it their own." If you only see one documentary in the next two years, do yourself a favor and see this one.

07 May 2012

wow

While for years I'd heard of the Raymond TV show I never came around to taking in more than an episode or two. I was invited to a screening of the film before it's theatrical run this past spring and wow was I pleasantly surprised. Phil Rosenthal is one of the more genuine, endearing, and funny people I've had the pleasure of watching in a documentary. Not only is the film hilarious but there was a conspicuous arc to the piece. Phil entered his situation one way and came out the other end a man with a newer and deeper understanding of what it means to be positive and open-minded. I give this film my highest recommendation.

05 May 2012

A must for Raymond Fans. For others, an often funny documentary on pop cultural differences.

First off, I need to admit that I've never watched a full episode of the TV series "Everyone Loves Raymond", starring Ray Romano. But I love entertainment documentaries and, since the press releases said that you didn't need to be a regular ELR fan to enjoy this film, I approached it from that angle.Phil Rosenthal is the creator - and original scriptwriter and Director - of ELR. After the show became a success for Sony TV Productions, the studio got a call from the Russian TV network. Russian versions of both "The Nanny" and "Who's The Boss" were a huge success - with new episodes using adapted U.S. scripts performed in Russian by Russian actors. So they wanted to try ELR. Rosenthal was sent to Russia to accomplish this and decided to bring along a camera crew to document the process. Things didn't go quite like it was planned and - as you will see in this 85-minute film - it wasn't just the language that was different; it was a cultural difference as well.Rosenthal narrates the film to hold it together. We first meet his parents, who formed the basis for the parents in ELR played by Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts. They are funny and their appearances provided some of the best laughs. The situations used in the episodes were always based on real life experiences from both Rosenthal and Romano. So off we go to Russia to cast the show. This wasn't easy because of Russian actors only work part of the day. And there are certain cultural icons that just don't translate. I won't give away too much of the plot, because that's where the fun lies. But, eventually they succeed is getting the show exported. That is obvious because - in a clever move in DVD packaging - the DVD contains two U.S. ELR episodes and their Russian equivalent (with subtitles of course). My recommendation is to watch each U.S. version first and then the Russian one.The film itself can drag in spots but - like ELR itself - there are some very funny moments that sneak up on you. Rosenthal has a droll sense of timing - not unlike Larry David - and there is an obvious Jewish comedian style to his delivery. (You get to see how he inherited this from his father in the one-minute "Restaurant Joke" told by his dad from the "Old Jews Telling Jokes" series, included as another bonus. There is a full-length commentary on the film by Rosenthal, but I haven't listened to that. (After all, the film itself is a Rosenthal commentary!). There are also 11 minutes of deleted scenes.For longtime fans of ELR, this is a must see. For those, like me, who never experienced ELR on TV, it serves as an intro to the series (I may seek it out in reruns) as well as an entertaining documentary on trying to cross, not only, language borders, but cultural ones as well.Steve Ramm"Anything Phonographic"

SeriousJest

05 May 2012

More Fascinating than Funny

I was married to a miserable, pessimistic, angry, and abusive woman, sowatching Debra yell at Ray, whether or not he deserved it, brought backtoo many unpleasant memories for me to enjoy Everybody Loves Raymondanymore. However, I did recognize its impressive comedic wit andacting. Watching Rosenthal try to work with "Russian Hollywood" tobring this style of comedy to Russian audiences was extremelyinteresting. I found Rosenthal to be pleasant and charismatic, althoughnot incredibly funny (in this film, I mean); some of the other peoplefeatured in this documentary, however, are hilarious…especiallyRosenthal's parents–one particular scene involving them and Skype hadme marveling at how truth really is often stranger and funnier thanfiction. All of that being said, this film is more fascinating thanfunny; and worth watching, but not a must-see.