I want to be completely up front in admitting that the first time Nicole Kidman opened her mouth as Lucy Ricardo my first thought was like, “Eh I’m not going to be able to watch this.”
But amazingly I did. I didn’t fast forward anything and I liked it even!
So Being the Ricardos is about one life in the week of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz while they are shooting the show. They are also dealing with her being accused of being a communist, behind the scenes going’s on, Lucille Ball’s pregnancy and their messy marriage.
And that in the end is what kept me going and what won me over as opposed to something like Spencer frankly. There’s just so much meat on the script (written by Aaron Sorkin who also directs) and so many things that appeal to me… Hollywood history, volatile marriages, behind the scenes, writing that it won out.
I also think it helps that Kidman mostly does make the most of the Lucille Ball sections.
The rest of the cast is pretty good but especially Javier Bardem as Desi/Ricky. He just has such a good energy and because it’s Desi we get music! Honestly I think J.K. Simmons as William Frawley/Fred was pretty off as Fred.
But it still mostly works for me.
Production design was pretty nice to and there were some nice shots though I think my favorite scene and one of the funniest in the movie was when they told the suits she was pregnant and yes they were going to put it on television thank you very much.
Which the struggle to do that was interesting as well.
Like I said I can completely understand why this won’t work for some people but it did for me. I thought Being the Ricardos was interesting enough to make it work so it’s at least worth checking out 🙂
Recommend: Yes.