Phil Rosenthal is the co-creator of the hit American TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond". He is offered a chance to adapt it to Russian TV. He is brought to Moscow but it's a case of fish out of water. An early nemesis is costumer Elena Starodubtseva who wants the highest of fashion for this regular middle class family. The writers are single and they don't get his comedy about marriage. Later, Phil finds out that they are overworked in this new field of sitcom writing in Russia. His constant support is translator Marina. There are problems with the executives and the hiring of the lead that he wants. In the end, it is the twists and turns of getting a TV show put on the screen. I don't watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" but that doesn't matter. It is a very insightful look in TV production no matter where. It is compelling to see if it works and actually funny with the exasperated Phil.
14 Reviews
Nothing Special But a Worthwhile Documentary with an Interesting Subject
bdgill122 May 2012
In 2005, Everybody Loves Raymond wrapped up its ninth and final season, taking its leave after 2010 episodes which led it to become one of the more beloved shows of the era. It was a show that highlighted the ups and downs of every day, married life, a topic which obviously the general public related to. Seven years later, you can probably turn your television on right now and find a syndicated episode of Raymond somewhere. Shortly after the finale, show creator Phil Rosenthal was approached by a SONY representative and asked to help the Russian television network create a native version of Raymond. Rosenthal brought along a film crew to document the events, revealing that comedy isn't quite as universal as we might expect.
I'm not sure exactly what Rosenthal expected from his trip abroad but it becomes quite clear early on that he wasn't prepared for this undertaking. He is thrown for a loop when he discovers that he has to invest in Kidnapping and Rescue Insurance, an issue he is assured never comes up; he astutely points out that if it "never" came up, there would be no need for the insurance. Upon arriving, he meets up with his private security guard/driver and their exchange soars right past the "awkward" stage and borders on becoming "tense." He is undoubtedly a stranger in a strange land and it only gets worse from there.
Later, Rosenthal is brought to the studio (which literally looks like every depressing, dilapidated building you've ever seen in a Hollywood version of Russia) and introduced to the crack team of writers and crew he will be working with. They show him clips from American shows that have previously been remade and he is given a glimpse into what Russians find funny. In my opinion, this was the best part of the entire documentary. Rosenthal is shown a clip from the Russian version of The Nanny, one of the most successful programs ever, which was truly atrocious. If, like me, you believe there is no lower form of "comedy" than Fran Dresher and The Nanny, then allow me to burst your bubble: judging from the 30 seconds shown in Exporting Raymond, I would say the Russian version is approximately 37 times worse. That exact sentiment is written in bold across Rosenthal's face as he looks around the room at his laughing coworkers and realizes he's bitten off far more than he could possibly chew. It is moment that is both hilarious and a little bit heartbreaking.
As Exporting Raymond progresses, we see more and more conflicts unfold for Rosenthal. The casting process alone turns out to be a major hassle as the actor Rosenthal wants to play the Raymond character is unable to get leave from his theater company and he is replaced with an actor who appears to be the Russian equivalent of Paul Walker in terms of acting ability. To top it all off, Rosenthal doesn't get along with the director of the pilot episode, who seems to regard him as a nuisance and refuses to listen to his advice, which is, of course, the only reason he was brought in.
The greatest strength of Exporting Raymond is its ability to point out the dramatic differences between the Russian culture and our own with a simple, understated style. This is a, "Let the camera roll and see what happens" sort of documentary and there's very little in the way or post- production or narration; rather, for the most part, the audience sees what Rosenthal sees and his reactions which are generally priceless. There are times when the film loses focus and becomes somewhat dull and even at its best, there's nothing excessively funny or definitively special about Exporting Raymond. But it still serves as a quirky, fun, and moderately insightful piece of work that is worth a viewing if for no other reason than to experience Rosenthal's dumbfounded facial expressions for yourself.
Please see my reviews at thesoapboxoffice.com
I'm not sure exactly what Rosenthal expected from his trip abroad but it becomes quite clear early on that he wasn't prepared for this undertaking. He is thrown for a loop when he discovers that he has to invest in Kidnapping and Rescue Insurance, an issue he is assured never comes up; he astutely points out that if it "never" came up, there would be no need for the insurance. Upon arriving, he meets up with his private security guard/driver and their exchange soars right past the "awkward" stage and borders on becoming "tense." He is undoubtedly a stranger in a strange land and it only gets worse from there.
Later, Rosenthal is brought to the studio (which literally looks like every depressing, dilapidated building you've ever seen in a Hollywood version of Russia) and introduced to the crack team of writers and crew he will be working with. They show him clips from American shows that have previously been remade and he is given a glimpse into what Russians find funny. In my opinion, this was the best part of the entire documentary. Rosenthal is shown a clip from the Russian version of The Nanny, one of the most successful programs ever, which was truly atrocious. If, like me, you believe there is no lower form of "comedy" than Fran Dresher and The Nanny, then allow me to burst your bubble: judging from the 30 seconds shown in Exporting Raymond, I would say the Russian version is approximately 37 times worse. That exact sentiment is written in bold across Rosenthal's face as he looks around the room at his laughing coworkers and realizes he's bitten off far more than he could possibly chew. It is moment that is both hilarious and a little bit heartbreaking.
As Exporting Raymond progresses, we see more and more conflicts unfold for Rosenthal. The casting process alone turns out to be a major hassle as the actor Rosenthal wants to play the Raymond character is unable to get leave from his theater company and he is replaced with an actor who appears to be the Russian equivalent of Paul Walker in terms of acting ability. To top it all off, Rosenthal doesn't get along with the director of the pilot episode, who seems to regard him as a nuisance and refuses to listen to his advice, which is, of course, the only reason he was brought in.
The greatest strength of Exporting Raymond is its ability to point out the dramatic differences between the Russian culture and our own with a simple, understated style. This is a, "Let the camera roll and see what happens" sort of documentary and there's very little in the way or post- production or narration; rather, for the most part, the audience sees what Rosenthal sees and his reactions which are generally priceless. There are times when the film loses focus and becomes somewhat dull and even at its best, there's nothing excessively funny or definitively special about Exporting Raymond. But it still serves as a quirky, fun, and moderately insightful piece of work that is worth a viewing if for no other reason than to experience Rosenthal's dumbfounded facial expressions for yourself.
Please see my reviews at thesoapboxoffice.com
Hilarious? Not really....but it is interesting.
planktonrules15 September 2011
Philip Rosenthal wrote and produced the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond". Now that the show has run its course in the States, Rosenthal is trying to sell the idea of the series to the Russians. The problem is that the cultures are very, very different. What's funny in America isn't always funny in Russia and vice-versa. As "Raymond" wasn't as broadly written as some more successful comedies in Russia (such as "The Nanny"). And, in addition, so often Rosenthal has no idea what's going on when he visits the country--so much gets lost in translation.
I noticed that another reviewer found this documentary hilarious. Well, I didn't--and this isn't a complaint, really. It is occasionally droll. But what I think is that the film is insightful and gives the viewer a look at cross-cultural differences--and that's what I appreciated about the film. Not a must-see, but very enjoyable. And, in some ways it reminds me of the Albert Brooks film "Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World" combined with an episode of Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimern's shows on travel and gastronomy. Rosenthal just visits with various Russians and films whatever happens--for good or bad. Interesting.
I noticed that another reviewer found this documentary hilarious. Well, I didn't--and this isn't a complaint, really. It is occasionally droll. But what I think is that the film is insightful and gives the viewer a look at cross-cultural differences--and that's what I appreciated about the film. Not a must-see, but very enjoyable. And, in some ways it reminds me of the Albert Brooks film "Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World" combined with an episode of Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimern's shows on travel and gastronomy. Rosenthal just visits with various Russians and films whatever happens--for good or bad. Interesting.
A very funny docu-comedy!
mbtphx14 May 2010
I just recently saw a test screening of this film at my school. Apart from issue-driven documentaries with some comedic elements like Super Size Me and Michael Moore's films, "Exporting Raymond" may very well be the first true comedy documentary.
While running into language barriers and culture differences as to what is funny, director Rosenthal tells a very funny and surprisingly often touching story about his efforts to adapt his American hit "Everybody Loves Raymond" for Russian audiences.
It is filled with several memorable "characters" that you just can't make up in real life! And you don't have to be a fan of the TV show to enjoy this documentary!
While running into language barriers and culture differences as to what is funny, director Rosenthal tells a very funny and surprisingly often touching story about his efforts to adapt his American hit "Everybody Loves Raymond" for Russian audiences.
It is filled with several memorable "characters" that you just can't make up in real life! And you don't have to be a fan of the TV show to enjoy this documentary!
An interesting & funny film. Not the riot that it could've been.
MorpheusOne3 May 2022
The funniest part of this 'docu-comedy' are the ones-liners by Phil Rosenthal in moments when things look bleak. Such as "K&R insurance" (kidnapping & ransom insurance); apparently it happens often enough over there that not only do they have an abbreviation for it, they evidently actually do sell this form of insurance to tourists who travel to countries where this is an issue of some concern, such as Russia. And commenting about the creepiness of "Gorky Studios", where it seems that the horror movie "Saw" may have been filmed... And commenting about the relatively young age of the kids doing rehearsals. Etc.
Costume Designer Elena Starodubtseva was an interesting character. I felt the tension & difficulty that was obviously in the room...between her & others in general, especially Phil Rosenthal. She seemed to have a burning desire to not get along with people. Maybe the job description that she was given by whoever hired her, for her job, is a different job description than the one given to costume designers elsewhere, such as in Hollywood; but, by giving a damn about fashion, the way in which she did, I can not begin to see how she was not doing a massive injustice to the show. She was very self-absorbed, very arrogant. She obviously didn't care about the show. At all. And only seemed to care about how she would be perceived if the characters wore clothing that was not 'fashionable'...
And while I am not entirely certain how they do it in Russia, I quite heavily get the impression that she goes to a hardware store to buy her make-up! I just can not honestly imagine Russian's selling paint, spackle & paste, of that thickness & type, in pharmacies or beauty supply stores. With that, easily, 40lbs of makeup on her face, ..honestly, she barely looks like a human being. Tammy Faye Baker is salivating with jealousy, spinning in her grave, no doubt! (Phil is, obviously, a very smart guy; there's no way in hell he didn't notice this about Elena Starodubtseva. But, maybe it was considered to be to harsh to bring up... Maybe he just needs to grow a pair.)
Costume Designer Elena Starodubtseva was an interesting character. I felt the tension & difficulty that was obviously in the room...between her & others in general, especially Phil Rosenthal. She seemed to have a burning desire to not get along with people. Maybe the job description that she was given by whoever hired her, for her job, is a different job description than the one given to costume designers elsewhere, such as in Hollywood; but, by giving a damn about fashion, the way in which she did, I can not begin to see how she was not doing a massive injustice to the show. She was very self-absorbed, very arrogant. She obviously didn't care about the show. At all. And only seemed to care about how she would be perceived if the characters wore clothing that was not 'fashionable'...
And while I am not entirely certain how they do it in Russia, I quite heavily get the impression that she goes to a hardware store to buy her make-up! I just can not honestly imagine Russian's selling paint, spackle & paste, of that thickness & type, in pharmacies or beauty supply stores. With that, easily, 40lbs of makeup on her face, ..honestly, she barely looks like a human being. Tammy Faye Baker is salivating with jealousy, spinning in her grave, no doubt! (Phil is, obviously, a very smart guy; there's no way in hell he didn't notice this about Elena Starodubtseva. But, maybe it was considered to be to harsh to bring up... Maybe he just needs to grow a pair.)
A few chuckles. But, not a comedy.
tomdothenley15 November 2021
It should have been classified as a documentary with a few laughs.
Shortly after he met the show's director and actors in Russia you knew the show was going to be a tough sell. Some humour doesn't cross culture lines. Try telling some seemingly funny jokes from Canada/USA to someone in India/Mexico/Peru and it just doesn't translate.
I would guess Russians don't insult their family members, people in authority, or argue over trivial matters. If they laugh at their version of "I Dream of Jeanie" or "The Nanny" they would get the humour of the Beverly Hillbillies or Green Acres (site gags and misunderstandings).
From what they showed of Russian humour it is from the Vaudville era.
Shortly after he met the show's director and actors in Russia you knew the show was going to be a tough sell. Some humour doesn't cross culture lines. Try telling some seemingly funny jokes from Canada/USA to someone in India/Mexico/Peru and it just doesn't translate.
I would guess Russians don't insult their family members, people in authority, or argue over trivial matters. If they laugh at their version of "I Dream of Jeanie" or "The Nanny" they would get the humour of the Beverly Hillbillies or Green Acres (site gags and misunderstandings).
From what they showed of Russian humour it is from the Vaudville era.
More Fascinating than Funny
SeriousJest15 February 2012
I was married to a miserable, pessimistic, angry, and abusive woman, so watching Debra yell at Ray, whether or not he deserved it, brought back too many unpleasant memories for me to enjoy Everybody Loves Raymond anymore. However, I did recognize its impressive comedic wit and acting. Watching Rosenthal try to work with "Russian Hollywood" to bring this style of comedy to Russian audiences was extremely interesting. I found Rosenthal to be pleasant and charismatic, although not incredibly funny (in this film, I mean); some of the other people featured in this documentary, however, are hilarious
especially Rosenthal's parents–one particular scene involving them and Skype had me marveling at how truth really is often stranger and funnier than fiction. All of that being said, this film is more fascinating than funny; and worth watching, but not a must-see.
Phil Rosenthal made an hilarious documentary.
FilmRap3 March 2011
If you know anything about the successful TV series Everybody Loves Raymond , you know that the co-creator writer/producer of this classic comedy show that ran 9 seasons was Phil Rosenthal. So much of the humor of it came from the observations, sensibilities, family experience and sense of humor of this young man. Therefore when SONY pictures and the Russian TV network decided they wanted to make a Russian version of this hit TV series, they decided to invite Phil Rosenthal to come to Russia and advise the writers, directors and producers how to pull it off. However, SONY also thought it would be a good idea if Rosenthal took a film crew with him to document the entire process. The result is a hilarious, insightful and very fascinating look at Russian television, Russian family life and the Russian sense of humor or lack thereof. It also shows how all of the above in many ways are quite different from it's American counterpart but yet beneath it all are quite similar. The success of this very funny documentary (how often do you see a funny doc?) is Phil Rosenthal. He is not only the writer/producer/director and star of this masterpiece but it is his sense of humor and timing, which carries this film. He was present at our screening and claimed he had a great deal of luck and just happened to be there filming at the right moment. There were a few spontaneous encounters caught on film with Rosenthal's parents and it was ELR all over again. The initial attempts to remake some of the original programs in Russian were wildly funny as the show was suffering in its cultural transplantation. The Russian writers, directors and involved in the making of the show were hard to believe but were quite real. There was the humorless Russian network Director of Comedy. There was a costume designer who believed it was the purpose of a TV comedy to show great trends in fashion even when depicting a typical housewife cleaning her home. In the end Everybody Loves Kostya is now the number one TV show in Russia. This documentary will be released in April and may fall between the cracks but it should definitely not be missed. You will laugh, come away with not only a lighter heart but also with a depth of insight and respect for an incredibly complex process (2011)
What a documentary should be!
DirkesDiggler28 October 2010
I know what you're thinking. "But I don't like 'Everybody Loves Raymond! Why would I want to watch this?" To which I reply, to your first point, "You are an asshole. It is a very good show, stop being an elitist prick and just enjoy yourself!" To your second, I reply, "You want to see this because it is, quite frankly, one of the funniest, sharpest, and completely entertaining documentaries I've ever seen." This is, in my opinion, the best documentary of the year. We follow Rosenthal from the original idea to the other side of the world as he tries to tune his show to fit the Russian sensibility, work in a creative environment that makes no sense to him, and deal with the absurd logistics of working in Russia. I cannot count the number of absolute laugh out loud moments in this film. Be it dealing with the new head of network comedy (a man who knows a significant amount more about lasers than comedy), trying to get the head of the Moscow Art Theatre to allow one of his actors to appear in the show (The Moscow Art Theatre is where Stanislavski did his writings on "the method," and Chekov premiered "The Seagull"), or attempting to translate the delicate physical comedy of a nut shot this movie has no shortage of genuinely funny moments. (At one point a joke about a "Fruit of the Month Club," had to be changed to "Water of the Week" because there is no "Fruit of the Month Club" in Russia
but apparently "Water of the Week" is a booming industry.) There are some touching scenes as well, Rosenthal bonding with his bodyguard (who would have preferred to have spent his life writing about sea shells), and spending an evening with a Russian family (and seeing just how similar we really are) add a nice emotional weight to the otherwise light proceedings. You could not write comedy this brilliant or moving. The film basically asks the question, "How difficult is it to let go of something you spent years of your life creating and let someone else make it their own." If you only see one documentary in the next two years, do yourself a favor and see this one.
Good documentaryp
Iluvcleanfunnymovies3 August 2023
I am a fan of the Raymond show, as is the rest of my family. 15 years after it's gone off the air and we still manage to watch it several times a week. Somehow it never gets old!
I just found out this documentary was done, so I was eager to watch it.
This was an eye-opening documentary of how everybody loves Raymond was made in Russia. There were moments of stress, there were moments of breakthroughs, and there were some light moments with the locals. This documentary was very well done. Contrast with most documentaries today are providing an angle to get you to do something. Most documentaries are pretty one-sided. This was not that kind of documentary. This was just telling the story, and it was enjoyable!
To sum up- there's sweet lessons that perseverance pays off, and families are the same all over the world.
I did not see this streaming, I got this from my local library. I don't think I would buy the DVD. I would find another way to watch it again. The DVD hijacks you with 15 minutes of solid advertisements. Dvd doesn't let you skip! Advertising disgusting shows that I would never watch that are TV-MA. That's not the fault of Phil Rosenthal, that's a Sony problem. Another ugly side of her show business.
I just found out this documentary was done, so I was eager to watch it.
This was an eye-opening documentary of how everybody loves Raymond was made in Russia. There were moments of stress, there were moments of breakthroughs, and there were some light moments with the locals. This documentary was very well done. Contrast with most documentaries today are providing an angle to get you to do something. Most documentaries are pretty one-sided. This was not that kind of documentary. This was just telling the story, and it was enjoyable!
To sum up- there's sweet lessons that perseverance pays off, and families are the same all over the world.
I did not see this streaming, I got this from my local library. I don't think I would buy the DVD. I would find another way to watch it again. The DVD hijacks you with 15 minutes of solid advertisements. Dvd doesn't let you skip! Advertising disgusting shows that I would never watch that are TV-MA. That's not the fault of Phil Rosenthal, that's a Sony problem. Another ugly side of her show business.
Interesting for All the Wrong Reasons
james-gall9 January 2018
This is a good documentary, but not of the creation of a Russian version of an American sitcom. It's a good documentary of a boorish (if not racist) New Yorker wondering why Russia is not like the world he knows. At around the time this film was made, I (an American) spent four months teaching at a university in Ukraine. I hope I was a better guest than Phil Rosenthal, but I was just as baffled by things I thought were "universal," but were really not. Throughout this documentary, Rosenthal constantly critiques things that are different about Russia, but he really doesn't attempt to understand anyone's point of view. He's only interested in what in their cultural makes him so hard to understand. He does all the Soviet schtick (Russia had been post-Soviet for 20 years when this film was made) and is just plain rude. When he finds out his driver is a veteran who served in Afghanistan, his immediate question is "did you kill anybody?" Imagine if a Russian tourist in the U.S. asked this upon meeting a Vietnam veteran. Rosenthal's sitcom is amusing, but this film definitely is not.
Brilliant Comedy Documentary
BarryRGribble16 November 2010
I saw this last night at a preview screening, and it was hilarious and extremely well done. The audience was laughing out loud from the first minute to the last, and also touched. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Phil Rosenthal made a delightfully sympathetic main character who remained incredibly nice, sincere and dedicated to the art of his task through an amazing array of frustrating obstacles. The story was truly stranger than fiction and fascinating to watch. It's a must-see for anyone in the film/TV business, or anyone who just likes to laugh.
If you can find a preview of this movie - go, and drag your friends.
Phil Rosenthal made a delightfully sympathetic main character who remained incredibly nice, sincere and dedicated to the art of his task through an amazing array of frustrating obstacles. The story was truly stranger than fiction and fascinating to watch. It's a must-see for anyone in the film/TV business, or anyone who just likes to laugh.
If you can find a preview of this movie - go, and drag your friends.
Exporting Raymond is not funny!
donwolf2013 January 2011
I had high expectations for this movie because the elite at the International Film Festival in Palm Springs promoted it so much. However, I did not find it funny. I did not find it informative. I did not find it added anything to my life except a wasted 2 hours in seeing it and listening the critiques of the film. The movie is simply a ego trip for the Director. He puts down everyone else in the "documentary". Only his genius was to shine through. I have to admit I never liked the Everybody Loves Raymond series because of the shallow humor. But this was much worse. The attempt at humor was not much of the purpose for the movie. I felt it was simply a ego trip and nothing else.
It's ok, but not the 'comedy' it's pitched as being.
studioAT14 August 2019
I agree with other reviewers who said that this isn't actually half as funny as it is made out to be on the DVD case, but as a 'Raymond' fan it is interesting enough, seeing Phil Rosenthal battle to adapt his US sitcom for Russian audiences.
Rosenthal is as engaging as ever, and there are some nice moments, but it feels more like a DVD extra, rather than something that warranted a features length documentary.
Rosenthal is as engaging as ever, and there are some nice moments, but it feels more like a DVD extra, rather than something that warranted a features length documentary.
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