while the film is never less than engrossing, its admiration for the nonpareil physical-comedy gifts of a pioneering giant of American television seems secondary to its coopting of her as a quintessentially Sorkinesque smartest person in the room
the film may be a disappointment for anyone looking for a definitive Lucille Ball biopic, but for those who want to take a peek at two pioneering figures at a particular moment in entertainment history, "Being the Ricardos" is a fascinating time machine
like all Aaron Sorkin-penned characters, this film's version of the sitcom legend is a mouthpiece for his brand of smarmy, know-it-all sarcasm, with little of the real actress's mastery of physical comedy on display
bolstered by good enough performances.. the film offers enough interpersonal drama to keep audiences watching and intrigued, but while Sorkin's script moves steadily towards the ending, the story wanes and never builds enough momentum to truly impress
Aaron Sorkin's ingeniously structured but weirdly mannered film offers an exhausting peek behind the scenes on "I Love Lucy". An oddity, in which all the characters seem to be avatars for the loquacious Sorkin himself
"Being the Ricardos," movie about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (played to wry perfection by Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem), is very much a heady helping of Sorkinese — and a beautiful illustration of what can be intoxicating about it
"Being the Ricardos", in many regards, is a mixed bag; The performances by Kidman and Bardem are big showy affairs that still manage to get to the soul of their characters. And the crowd-pleasing elements of an underdog love story can't be ignored
"Being the Ricardos" is an irresistible film about Lucy and Desi. It's an invitation to go behind the scenes of the "I Love Lucy" show and to see what Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were really like
by Brian Truitt [USA Today ]
by Cary Darling [Houston Chronicle ]
by Jake Cole [Slant Magazine ]
by Mae Abdulbaki [ScreenRant ]
by Peter Bradshaw [The Guardian ]
