When I was planning out the films I wanted to review for the year, something about Somewhere in Queens caught my eye. Maybe I was enamored at the prospect of Ray Romano- whom I have fond memories of watching Everybody Loves Raymond with my father as a younger man- finally getting to direct a comedy. Maybe the plot, while silly sounding in synopsis, captured my attention. It could have even been the thought of seeing Romano and Laurie Metcalf starring together as a married couple that hooked me. In any event, I was ready. Even if the film was just a dumb comedy, it was one I wanted to see. Then, as life goes, things got in the way. The film wasn’t showing at any theater within a 50-mile radius of me, and other films began to take precedent. When I was finally able to see Somewhere in Queens, I must admit I was shockingly impressed.
The film follows the story of Leo Russo, played by Ray Romano. Leo is a hard-working, blue-collar Italian American who wholly loves his wife Angela (Laurie Metcalf) and son Matt “Sticks” Russo (Jacob Ward). Sticks, a shy and awkward type, is finishing up high school when he meets and starts dating Dani (Sadie Stanley). Oh, by the way, Sticks is also really good at basketball. So good that he’s being scouted at the collegiate level. But when he gives it all up after he and Dani break up, Leo intervenes to try and save Sticks’ – and Leo’s- dreams.
Right from the film’s wedding montage opener is it established that this film is about family. I was fully expecting it to be something closer to the level of Meet the Parents or even About My Father which released earlier in 2023. I wasn’t expecting just how well Romano was able to blend drama and comedy together to form something wholly original. There were hardly any visual gags; all the humor comes through the film’s sharp dialogue. It worked so well, and especially so given the rowdy Italian family the film is based around.
That said, the dramatic elements of the film are where it truly shined. Romano exhibited skill beyond his level of directing to get the most out of every scene, and the writing was poignant and intelligent enough to keep me engaged. Couple that with a plot that was interesting and – most importantly – real, and I was hooked for the entire runtime. It was impressive how well the film handled its highs and lows equally, and it got downright emotional at parts. Like the kind of emotional that had me unable to move my eyes from the screen even short enough to blink yet had my heart pumping. I wasn’t expecting anything near like that from a movie like this.
The story of Somewhere in Queens is written in such a way that it felt like every character existed outside of the confines of the script. It may sound simple but it’s eye-opening how many films struggle with this. Metcalf’s Angie is dealing with the aftermath of a bout with cancer. Romano’s Leo struggles with his dead-end job with the family business and trying to live up to his brother (Sebastian Maniscalco), while also caring for his wife and son. Ward’s Sticks loves basketball but struggles socially in any other situation. Each character is given something that they’re going through that feels genuine and adds to the story. What’s even impressive is how it doesn’t muddy up the main conflict to the story. These extra tidbits only enhance each character. The only fault the film has is that too often it’s told from Leo’s point of view. While this works a vast majority of the time, I would have loved to see more from others, especially with Stick’s and Dani’s relationship.
It helps that the acting in Somewhere in Queens is nothing short of excellent. Each character had their own time to shine and took it. Romano plays the sort of bumbling but lovable idiot type well, but also delivers on some excellent dramatic moments I didn’t realize he had in him. Ward’s strange and sometimes unsettlingly awkward portrayal of Sticks and Stanley playing the free-spirited Dani not only work well independently but also have great chemistry together. Laurie Metcalf, however, is most impressive here. She dials up the performance to 11 and I believed it every step of the way. Each one of them, along with a whole host of side characters, kept me engaged throughout my viewing.
Final Thoughts
Billed as a comedy, Somewhere in Queens proves it’s more than just something silly to see once and then get lost in the vast ether of the film universe. It was clear that Romano really cared for the story he was trying to tell, and stellar acting and writing carried it through. With a runtime just a hair over 1h 45m, this is an easy, yet wholly engaging watch that impressed me at every turn. Somewhere in Queens feels real, and the story it tells certainly matches that. This is, surprisingly, a must watch for 2023.
