Ray Romanogoes back to his roots in more ways than one withSomewhere in Queens.
It is this family that gives the film its heart.
Leo’s midlife crisis comes via his aspirations for his son.
Ray Romano and Laurie Metcalf in ‘Somewhere in Queens’.Mary Cybulski/Roadside Attractions
Leo is obsessed withRocky, with rooting for the underdog in the face of life’s obstacles.
ButSomewhere in Queensdoesn’t have the scale of aRockyfilm.
That’s in the case of tone and heart, not production budget.
Ray Romano in ‘Somewhere in Queens’.Mary Cybulski/Roadside Attractions
Romano is a skilled, if not flashy director, bringing a simplicity to his framing.
There’s nothing particularly visually arresting, but he does have an eye for human relationships and naturalistic performances.
She brings her internal conflict to vivid life with a mere furrow of the brow or a sidelong glance.
Sadie Stanley and Jacob Ward in ‘Somewhere in Queens’.Mary Cybulski/Roadside Attractions
But it’s not breaking any new or revelatory ground.
Romano takes the beats ofEverybody Loves Raymondand replaces the comedy with a bittersweet melancholy.
For better or worse, the dysfunction and the love remain.B
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