Ray Romano’s Identical Twin Sons Confront Their Quarter-Life Crisis, Codependency and Growing Up With a Famous Dad in Their New Documentary

As a movie reviewer with a penchant for documentaries that delve deep into the human condition, I must say that “The Romano Twins” is an absolute gem. Having spent years working in the entertainment industry myself, I can certainly relate to the struggles of trying to find one’s place and purpose amidst a sea of opportunities.

In their mid-twenties, Matt and Greg Romano, identical twins of the famed “Everybody Loves Raymond” actor Ray Romano, found themselves in a rut. Despite dabbling in college and working as production assistants on shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The James Corden Show,” they struggled to see any significant career progress. To make matters worse, they were still living at home, surrounded by relics of their teenage years, such as Yankees and Jets memorabilia and “Simpsons” figurines. They recognized the need for change but felt trapped in their current situation.

In this scenario, Matt embarked on an extended audition phase for “Survivor,” but became uneasy at the thought of living in isolation for so long. At the brink of being chosen as a contestant, he chose to withdraw at the last moment. Struggling with feelings of disappointment, Matt confided in his friend Ray Romano about his twin sons’ difficulty transitioning into independence. It was Duplass who proposed they document their daily lives through a vlog, believing it could potentially grow into something larger. If it did, he promised to produce their movie.

Years ago, he handed us a camera and simply told us to explore and capture moments. It feels like ages have passed since then, but I believe he may have forgotten about our adventures.” (Greg speaking)

The project, titled “The Romano Twins,” is a fly-on-the-wall documentary that offers a humorous, honest, and emotional glimpse into their quarter-life crises. This production, which began in 2018, has been in the works for quite some time. Matt acknowledges that there were moments when they considered abandoning it entirely, but eventually, they found reasons to persist due to the unique value it holds. On this coming Friday, it will premiere at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival.

As youngsters, Matt and Greg closely resembled one another in their daily activities. “Matt and I were practically inseparable, sharing the same classes, the same circle of friends,” Greg explains. They shared similar pastimes and passions. However, they occasionally failed to acknowledge the extent of their synchrony. “Our companions would point out that we were each other’s best friends,” Greg notes. “We didn’t realize it ourselves.

Ray Romano recalls a journey to Los Angeles they made with Greg when the family was residing in New York and Greg was still an infant. This was Greg’s initial trip apart from his brother. “Upon reaching the hotel, we entered our room and were unpacking our luggage in one of them. From another room, we heard a noise similar to a knock or a thud, so we went inside and found Greg standing beside a full-length mirror. It seemed he believed Matt was there and walked into it.

Initially, their close bond shielded Matt and Greg from the broader world, hindering them from achieving their full potential individually. In “The Romano Twins,” they chose to venture independently to gauge their capabilities without relying on each other. Matt embarked on a journey into the Canadian wilderness with guides, aiming for a rugged survival experience reminiscent of the reality TV show “Survivor.” On the other hand, Greg elected to follow his father’s footsteps by testing his comedic skills at open mic nights across the country.

Matt’s experience was significantly more victorious as he managed to catch a fish and enjoyed spending time in nature. On the other hand, Greg’s day didn’t go as well. He visited several bars, cracking jokes that fell on deaf ears among the patrons who seemed uninterested.

Matt shares, “I felt quite proud of myself,” he says, “but upon reflection, I came to understand that my objectives were not particularly challenging. Given the nature of Greg’s trip, it seemed highly unlikely for him to return and announce, ‘I achieved it! I performed comedy, you know, as if I’ve become a successful comedian.’

Greg confesses that he holds himself to a very high standard, and given his background, it felt disappointing to him. Despite knowing that what he was doing was challenging, it turned out to be more difficult emotionally than he anticipated.

Ray Romano, with a sense of empathy born from his own beginnings in comedy, believed that his son was overly critical of himself following the viewing of Greg’s less-than-successful performance on stage.

Ray Romano expresses that he wouldn’t dream of being compared to LeBron James, but if one considers LeBron’s son, a member of the Lakers, they inevitably will be compared to his father. However, he points out that there’s a significant difference between the two: while LeBron’s son has been playing basketball since he was just two years old, Greg (Ray Romano) was embarking on his stand-up comedy career for the first time. He humorously emphasizes that one can’t expect success in stand-up comedy during their debut performance.

The siblings too realize that their status as offspring of one of history’s most prominent sitcom actors comes with immense advantages. In a moment during the movie, Greg expresses doubts whether people would be interested in a documentary featuring “nepotism-born kids” who are overweight.

Ray Romano jokes, “That’s what I suggested for the title,” meaning he proposed that title. “By the end of the film, they weren’t overweight anymore. It took that long to make the movie.

However, they chose to humbly admit their opulent security blanket in a manner that poked fun at themselves.

As a movie buff, I can’t help but feel anticipation when people say or may say things like that about me. But at the heart of it all, we tend to take such comments in stride. After all, why not make light of the situation?

The Romano Twins” study twin behavior on a broader scale by exploring the strong bond between Matt and Greg. They eventually participate in the “Twins Day Festival” held in Twinsburg, Ohio, where they interact with other identical twins. It was discovered that these twins frequently reside near each other, share similar interests, and even work for the same employers at the same companies.

“I don’t know if was validating to see it,” says Greg. “I did feel a connection to it.”

Ray Romano points out, ‘The difference between you all and them lies in their open display of closeness.’ They demonstrate it openly; you tend to suppress or hide it.

Initially, “The Romano Twins” project was forgotten and untouched for a while. A pandemic occurred, followed by Matt moving in with his partner. Life’s demands took over, making it seem as though “The Romano Twins” might become yet another unfinished passion project. However, they eventually revisited their raw, unused footage and gradually constructed the narrative of their lives. Once the movie was finished, both twins felt empowered to embark on new ventures independently.

This year, I tied the knot and moved away from where Greg resides, about three-quarters of a mile distance. Although we’re living apart, our lives aren’t entirely detached. Greg continues to live with one of his friends in the same vicinity. Despite the change, our shared interests persist, making it unnecessary for us to break our bond. Our intention was simply to reduce some of our interconnectedness. We wish to engage in activities independently without feeling the need for each other’s presence.

2024-11-08 21:17

Ray Romano’s Identical Twin Sons Confront Their Quarter-Life Crisis, Codependency and Growing Up With a Famous Dad in Their New Documentary

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