Monday Movie Review - Somewhere in Queens

Ray Romano does well acting and directing Somewhere in Queens.  He's obviously on home ground in telling the story of a big Italian-American family. As Leo, he works for the family business,  Russo Construction. The father (Tony Lo Bianco) obviously favors younger brother (Sebastian Maniscalco) and Leo lumbers along with wife, Angela (Laurie Metcalf - always solid) and shy son Matthew aka Sticks (Jacob Ward). 

Shy anxious "Sticks" breaks out on the basketball court and as a senior he has small college potential. Leo wants success for him and pushes him for tryouts at Drexel. There is a secret - the kid has a girlfriend - his first. He's head over heels and the girl isn't that intense. A  break-up is going  to ruin  everything and Leo persuades her to hang in there. Obviously, that  isn't going to fly for long and there's plenty of family drama, hurt feelings, shouting, hand gestures, and pasta. Lots  of  family dinners and meatballs. 

Somewhere in Queens isn't terribly original, but  it's well done. And there actually is a bit of a surprise twist at the end. Good solid acting, some laughs, some moments that  tear the heart - it's family! I enjoyed a $5 matinee - just needed a super big screen morning.