Somewhere in Queens is a gem of a film, the kind of indie film that’s of a dying breed. Ray Romano co-writes, directs, and stars as as Leo Russo, a patriarch of a blue-collar Italian-American family living in Queens, New York. He’s a father who will do anything to help his son, Sticks (Jacob Ward), achieve his dream of playing college basketball. Laurie Metcalf co-stars as Angela Russo, Leo’s wife and Sticks’ mother with a heartbreaking, slow-burn character reveal that acts as the backbone of the film. Together, Romano and Metcalf apply their similar sitcom histories to this engaging family drama and let their dramatic acting abilities take center stage.

When Sticks receives a life-altering chance to play college basketball, Leo becomes determined to prevent his son from following the path of their family’s construction business. In a cringe-worthy way, the narrative unfolds with a mixture of misunderstandings that snowball into stomach-churning fiasco. However, the notable performances from Sebastian Maniscalco and Tony Lo Bianco capture the essence of family, dreams, and the pain of life’s disappointments.

Co-written with Mark Stegemann, Romano creates well-developed and relatable characters that could easily lend itself to a series for television. What happens to this family, these characters? It leaves the audience wanting more, rather than less, a rare feat in an era of bloated blockbusters. While the film has its fair share of serious moments, Romano and Metcalf can’t help their innate sense of comedy; the two sitcom veterans are believable as a longtime married couple struggling with illnesses, an aging marriage and a growing son.

Somewhere in Queens is beautifully shot and directed, capturing the gritty and down-to-earth sights and sounds of the gritty New York burrow. While another movie falls into the trap of creating a manic pixie dream girl in Sticks’ girlfriend, the overall story is reminiscent of the indie film past. One to watch!