FilmSnobReviews

Title: Lucy and Desi
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Amy Poehler
Starring: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Lucie Arnaz
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

What It Is: Lucille Ball was an absolute revolutionary in the television game but so was her first husband Desi. Through archival footage, we get to know television’s first true superstars for who they truly were. Through their ups and downs. Their highs and lows. We get perspective on who they are through the people who loved and admired them. We get to know what made them at one point the most powerful duo in television production.

What We Think: One thing is clear. Amy Poehler loves and respects the subjects of this documentary. She’s a fan but she never presents the documentary in a way that looks upon Lucy and Desi with unbias admiration. She paints a portrait of two lovers loving each other and what they do. Of the consumption of time that their success caused. How what started as a wish and a dream slowly melted into a business. One that didn’t leave enough time for the people who were in it. Poehler goes into what Lucy and Desi meant to their chosen medium. What they accomplished is a remarkable feat really. Not just from the perspective of television but being a mixed-race couple.

Our Grade: A-, A postcard sent with love from Poehler to not only fans of the dynamic television legends but from the legends themselves to anyone who’s ever laughed at one of their shows or appreciated one of their projects. From I Love Lucy to Star Trek we have these lively people to thank. If you’ve ever loved anything on television it probably started with I Love Lucy. I cannot recommend this film any more highly. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll leave feeling absolutely amazing. Check this one out on Amazon Prime as soon as possible.