Redemption!

 

Well, that didn't take long at all.   On the heels of the dreadful Aaron Sorkin swill called "Being the Ricardos," director Amy Poehler and executive producer Ron Howard released this wonderful documentary which essentially acts as a cinematic palate cleanser.   All the falsehoods and imaginary demons created by Sorkin are erased.

The truth of the relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz is here.   Yes, there are warts but none like the ones conjured up by Aaron Sorkin who clearly has zero respect for what this couple did with their creation of "I Love Lucy."  The best part of this documentary is that their story is told in their own words and voices via tapes, radio interviews, etc..  It is also loaded with terrific home movies and clips as Amy Poehler had the full cooperation of Lucie Arnaz.   Of course, so did Sorkin and you see what that did.   Little Lucie has become this huge opportunistic and picking the bones off her parents' career since her own has come to a grinding halt.

I was even more gratified to see this movie give due respect and platitudes to our friends Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll Jr. as co-creators of the sitcom.  They are depicted with reverence as they should be.   Again, Poehler doesn't gloss over some of the issues Lucy and Desi dealt with.   But, at the same time, the details are accurate and never smutty.   

The most important part of "Lucy and Desi" is the re-emphasis on how much of a genius Desi Arnaz was with the creation of the multicam sitcom format that still exists...although to a lesser degree...to this very day.   The man was a true visionary.   Madelyn once told us that he never got credit for shaping TV history and I have to agree.

Poehler's documentary is compelling, interesting, and available on Amazon Prime.   So is Aaron Sorkin's movie...meaning that you can see it on Amazon Prime.   But it's best that you didn't.

LEN'S RATING:  Four stars.

Dinner last night:  Leftover Chinese food.