Synopsis
Phil Rosenthal, the Emmy® Award-winning creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” takes us on a journey halfway around the world to detail his struggle to make one of America’s most beloved sitcoms (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) a successful Russian TV series.
Phil Rosenthal is a hilarious guide on this tour from America to Russia. Detailing his thoughts about his series and how well it translates to Russian television is a brilliant concept for a documentary. There are some fantastic moments, some down moments (especially when the series isn’t developing well) and a great ending. Seeing Rosenthal experience not only Russian television, but also the culture makes for a very interesting film. Most Americans probably don’t know a darn thing about Russian television, so this is sort of a guide to how their process differs from ours. Coming from a television and media background, I found the trip that Rosenthal took to be nothing short of enlightening.
Much like his award-winning series, Rosenthal depends on these Russian differences to make the documentary a lighthearted journey. You get to see some very basic, and sometimes over the top, television development that at times is more dependent on someone’s demeanor rather than logical decision making. Seeing the television development process in a non-American fashion makes Exporting Raymond work so well. For example, Rosenthal’s selection for his ‘Raymond’ doesn’t come easy as it might have in America. While the Actor’s Guild is potentially the only obstacle when it comes to hiring actors on shows/films (probably agents and attitudes as well) apparently there are separate acting groups in Russia led by a single Master. Seeing Rosenthal go head-to-head with a Russian acting Master was culturally interesting and tense at the same time; again, it makes for great moments in the documentary.
Having said that, here’s the only issue with all of this; Rosenthal plays that American tourist that doesn’t understand why things aren’t like America. Having that mentality is somewhat embarrassing to watch when it’s happening onscreen. When he questions the clothing designer, the actors, hassles the director, and even makes fun of the studio where the pilot is being shot, it’s all sort of uncomfortable to watch. Granted, it makes for fantastic comedy in many instances. For example, when he is talking to the director about the Russian Raymond’s kick in the groin and how the actor is bouncing up and down, it’s hilarious. Or when he is in the hallway of the studio and he talks about hearing the cancer in the broken down structure, it’s funny. There are great moments and then there are moments where you simply want him to accept how things. He must have known that the show wouldn’t translate perfectly in Russia, so giving a little had to be in the cards. Instead, Rosenthal fights tooth and nail to maintain almost everything that made the show great in America, and it makes for very uncomfortable moments where you’re thinking, “Sheesh, just let it go, man.” While I understand that this is his show and it’s something he is passionate about, he also has to understand that Russia won’t change for him. By the end of the documentary you will wish the ending had been the resolution somewhere near the middle of the entire thing.
Outside of this, the entire journey is still interesting and mesmerizing to view. The ending is especially good and brings everything back into perspective for both sides of this television process.
Now, as for the special features, here’s what you’re looking at:
· Two Full Episodes of “Everybody Loves Raymond”
· Two Full Episodes of “Everybody Loves Kostya”
· Commentary with writer/director Phil Rosenthal
· Deleted Scenes
· Max Rosenthal’s “Restaurant” Joke on OldJewsTellingJokes.com
I like what was included on this DVD set. I think by including two episodes of each country’s shows to see how they compare was nothing short of brilliant. It says a lot about the humbleness of Rosenthal and what he thinks of his creation in another country. I really think it was a cool decision to include the Russian version. The commentary on this release is excellent and the deleted scenes were as good as deleted scenes can be. The final special feature pretty much speaks for itself.
The special features were pretty damn good.