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Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Best movie ever!

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

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.

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.

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.

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!