Somewhere in Queens movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Somewhere in Queens

This cute dramedy is now playing on Prime Video, ROW8, Vudu or Apple TV.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 47 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about Leo and Angela Russo who live a simple life in Queens, New York, surrounded by their overbearing Italian-American family. When their son “Sticks” finds success on his high-school basketball team, Leo tears the family apart trying to make it happen.

Actor, comedian Ray Romano knocked it out of the park with this thoughtful family drama as the director and the co-writer. He also stars in it! Everyone DOES love Raymond! (Are you a fan of that popular TV show?) His writing partner was Mark Stegemann. Well done, boys.

THINGS I LIKED:

The cast is superb and includes Academy Award & Emmy Award winner Ray Romano, Oscar-nominee Laurie Metcalf, comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, Jennifer Esposito, Tony Lo Bianco, Jacob Ward, Sadie Stanley, and more.
Ray Romano and Laurie Metcalf work so well together. They illustrate the perfect push and pull of a marriage that has gone through challenges in life, yet they’re still together, trying to keep their vows and evolve through life.
Sebastian Maniscalco is such a natural, so I’m thrilled that his stand-up comedy is taking him to the Big Screen. In this film, he has a very small role, but if you’re a fan of his like I am, check out his new movie called About My Father where he’s the star.
With all of the high-tech, superhero movies with loud sounds and flashing lights, it’s nice to watch a movie about real people just living life.
The dialogue is realistic.
The actors don’t look like slick Hollywood celebrities, but instead, like real salt-of-the-earth people.
Wonderful soundtrack.
I love it when movies reference other movies. In this movie, Ray Romano’s character quotes lines from the movie Rocky. The camera also quickly pans those famous steps that Rocky runs up and down in Philadelphia when certain characters visit the city.
I loved the poetry element of the story.
All of the characters are deliciously flawless. We get to see each of them learn and grow together. Beautiful.
I absolutely adore movies that have carefully presented seemingly insignificant lines or moments that turn out to be important in the end, wrapping them all up with a clever bow. This movie does just that.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I don’t enjoy the constant bickering and loud screaming, yet I also recognize that’s the delightfully dynamics of many Italian families.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Profanity and F-bombs
A lot of talk about intimate relations
Talk of cancer

THEMES:

Community
Family
Legacy
Parenting
Father/son relationships
Dishonesty
Support
Parental love & sacrifice
Guilt
Finding your unique gifts and place in the world

FUNNY LINES:

“I’ve been friends with him since we were kids and I’ve never seen him running.” – Lou (Danny Garcia)
“You said it was majestical.” – Angela Russo (Laurie Metcalf)
“She was alright. Full of piss and vinegar, but in a good way.” – Petey (Jon Manfrellotti)