Growing up, I spent plenty of late afternoons watching television sitcom re-runs with my grandmother.
Among those were the “I Dream of Jeannie” and “I love Lucy” shows – which garnered plenty of easy laughs and bonding moments.
Naturally, when I looked back on those nostalgic shows and memories of said shows I had high hopes for “Being the Ricardos” when I first heard of it and saw the initial trailer.
But, after watching the actual film, I’m a bit disappointed.
I wasn’t prepared for it to be more of a dramatized documentary of sorts of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s relationship behind the scenes of the sitcom.
So, it wasn’t full of as many laughs as I’d hoped it to have.
Being the Ricardos is an American biographical drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, about the relationship between I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Ball and Arnaz, while J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jake Lacy, and Clark Gregg also star.
The film is told from three perspectives: interviews with the show’s three lead writers: Jess Oppenheimer (who was also the showrunner), Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll; flashbacks; and preparations for a live taping in 1953.
The movie is rated R for language and clocks in at 131 minutes long.
In 1939, Ball (Kidman), 28, is an actress contracted to RKO Pictures.
She gets small parts in big studio productions, but is featured mainly in low-budget films which gives her the moniker “Queen of the B-Movies.”
She is cast in the comedy Too Many Girls, a film Pugh describes as a bad play made into an even worse movie.
She meets one of the film’s cast, charismatic 22-year-old Cuban singer Desi Arnaz (Bardem), and the two fall for each other instantaneously.
Months after filming, they marry and buy a home in Hollywood.
Desi has a successful stint fronting the Desi Arnaz Orchestra that tours around the country, while Lucy continues her film career with little success.
After Desi serves in World War II, he resumes his success with his orchestra, with Lucy having to accompany him because of his cheating.
Lucy finally gets a break when she is cast in 1942’s The Big Street.
The film is only a modest hit, but Ball’s performance is praised.
She meets with RKO President Charles Koerner confident she will get better scripts on par with established stars like Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis.
But Koerner terminates her contract as several actresses RKO loaned to other studios will be returning and there will be nothing for her.
He suggests she use her voice for radio, and with no substantial film roles coming, she does.
In 1948, she is cast in the radio show My Favorite Husband, which becomes a success.
The show draws interest from CBS and Philip Morris, but Ball only agrees if Desi plays her on-screen husband.
The executives refuse because Arnaz is Hispanic, but relent after Lucy refuses to give them the show.
Ball also hopes that working with Desi will curb his cheating and save their marriage.
I think this film would have done better with actual dialogue or clips from Lucy and Desi instead of just using the actors.
Being the Ricardos is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
