The Film
Phil Rosenthal isn't really a household name. However, if you've flipped channels, in say the past 15 years, you should definitely know his work. As the creator of a little show called Everybody Loves Raymond, Rosenthal has made his mark on American television. Now, he's going to branch out a bit.
Instead of snagging another show, Rosenthal focused on Exporting Raymond -- and a documentary that chronicles his adventures while trying to do just that. The problem is that the new target audience is Russia. What makes studio execs think that Raymond would do well with Russian audiences? Rosenthal finds himself asking that same question repeatedly throughout the film's 85-minute runtime.
It's not so much the question that's funny, but how Rosenthal asks it. It's all in the delivery. That's something that Rosenthal seems to have down packed. What he doesn't seem to have is control over his baby. The Russians want to tweak what's now known as Everybody Loves Kostya to something beyond Rosenthal's recognition.
These experiences are just one of the things that makes Exporting Raymond such an entertaining film. He has plenty of observations and one-liners. Rosenthal's parents, Max and Helen (who both helped to inspire Raymond's TV parents) certain help the hilarity in many spots.
However, Rosenthal doesn't just make it about us versus them. It's about making the process of making a TV show and learning about different cultures. Rosenthal's main objective is to make his creations relatable. He's certainly achieved that with Exporting Raymond. You can read more about what went into this documentary in our exclusive Q&A with Phil Rosenthal.
The Picture
The image on Exporting Raymond is a bit of a mixed bag. Four cameras and a lot of stock video will do that to a film. The 1.78:1 transfer kicks off with a mix of high-def clips from the show Everybody Loves Raymond and a series of behind-the-scenes "home" videos. There are writing sessions and other production moments, which are not shown in high-def. Once the documentary kicks in, you'll see a major improvement in both the color and the detail included. The image isn't even close to demo material, but is pretty impressive for a documentary.
The Sound
This type of film doesn't lend itself to a lot of surround sound. The most interesting parts of the film have Rosenthal talking or narrating, so the dialogue is very important. That's what the DTS-HD Master Audio track is focused on, and does deliver very well. Creaks, traffic and other travel noises creep into the surrounds, as does the occasional whisper of the film's soundtrack. The biggest boom, however, comes from a hearty dose of Britney Spears. That's right; you have to hear it to believe it.
The Extras
If you enjoyed Rosenthal's dialogue during the movie, you may want to check out his audio commentary. Just in the movie's first few minutes, he talks a lot about the show that inspired the movie. From there, he embellishes on what's going on in the film. Yes, believe it or not, he has a lot more to say. He also says it in a very entertaining way. However, the real gem is that this release includes two full-length episodes of Everybody Loves Kostya, along with the two episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond that inspired them. It's very interesting to compare the two finished products, especially after seeing the behind-the-scenes process.
Final Thoughts
You don't have to be a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond to enjoy Exporting Raymond, but it certainly helps. Phil Rosenthal is an excellent tour guide, using his wit to guide strangers through a strange land -- which includes the strange world of the TV business. The Blu-ray does give this release a decent boost, but the extras are what make this format a worthy purchase.
Product Details
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