Lucy and Desi is one of the most conflicting documentaries I have ever seen. Sometimes, it can be a genuine film about one of the most famous couples of all time. Other times, I see a fake and manufactured retelling with flimsy, cardboard, and clearly exaggerated accounts of these people. Although it is hard to explain exactly why I feel this way, I am unable to entirely connect with this film on an emotional level. This documentary is very sentimental, so it is difficult to fully enjoy when some of the emotional centers feel false.

There are many strong points to the film. For example, the editing is wonderful. It is able to keep the film engaging and at a steady pace. The clips used from I Love Lucy were also chosen well. They related to whatever topic they were focused and were always heartwarming or hilarious. In terms of the atmosphere, as a whole, the film was very comforting to watch as it had a lot of heart. The film is also well-shot and edited extremely well. Amy Poehler did an exceptional job at conveying the complex work dynamic and romantic relationship between these two figures. At no point did it feel like any of the actors or celebrities talking ever held back.

However, the film suffers from a severe lack of consistency. What helps combat this is the length of the film. It is a fairly short watch and one that never feels a minute too long. But there are times throughout this film where the tone shifts are jarring, and in these times, you can’t sit and fully experience an emotion. At times, there are moments of sadness and compassion that are broken abruptly by a witty joke or laughable clip. Another huge gripe that I had was the music. The score was manipulative and basic. It felt lazily created and clearly only added for the sake of having music.

Overall, Luci and Desi is a sweet portrayal of platonic, romantic, and work-related relationships that has good and bad segments. Thankfully, the lack of consistent quality in those is greatly helped by an excellent selection of vintage and modern video clips and amazing editing.

8/10