Comedienne Amy Poehler has already showcased her directorial skills with two feature-length films. The recent Amazon Prime original Lucy & Desi marks her directorial debut in the documentary format. As the title suggests, the documentary chronicles the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz whose work on the sitcom I Love Lucy turned them into one of the most iconic power couples in the film industry.
The documentary along with Aaron Sorkin's biopic Being The Ricardos have brought Ball and Arnaz's stardom back into the popular conversation. For the audiences who enjoyed Poehler's documentary, they would also be interested in exploring more movies starring the two comedic legends as well as other stories that explore similar power couples.
Walk The Line (2005) - Stream On Amazon Prime
Featuring one of Joaquin Phoenix's greatest performances, Walk The Line is essentially a biopic of country music legend Johnny Cash. However, instead of just glorifying his life, James Mangold's movie also covers his drug addiction and toxic relationship with his wife and frequent collaborator June Cash (played by Reese Witherspoon in an Oscar-nominated performance).
The strains in the protagonists' romance as well as their collective star power can be comparable to a couple like "Lucy and Desi". Given the fact that both pairs were expected to act like the perfect couple in front of the cameras, their fame put a lot of pressure on their personal life.
Being The Ricardos (2021) - Stream On Amazon Prime
Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, Being The Ricardos covers a week in the life of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. As they prepare for an episode of I Love Lucy, Ball struggles with the flak that she might receive for an unexpected connection with the Communists. If this weren't enough, her marriage is also crumbling as she suspects Arnaz of infidelity.
Powered by Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem's performances, Being The Ricardos adds dramatic depth to the real-life story that Amy Poehler's documentary attempts to reveal.
Moxie (2020) - Stream On Netflix
Moxie is a coming-of-age dramedy that revolves around a shy but passionate teenage girl who seeks to fight the rampant sexism in her school. As she resorts to anonymously channeling her views through a zine called Moxie, she kicks off a revolution of sorts.
Written and directed by Amy Poehler, the Netflix movie allows the Parks & Recreation star to flaunt her dramatic prowess and storytelling abilities which she only developed further with a documentary like Lucy & Desi.
Man On The Moon (1999) - Stream On Tubi TV
Man On The Moon is a semi-realistic and semi-surrealist take on the life of infamous comedian Andy Kaufman, yielding one of Jim Carrey's best dramatic roles. The movie covers his bizarre style of physical comedy, his wrestling career, and his struggles with mental health.
Kaufman's brand of comedy was goofy and immature but as this biopic shows, he too had his quota of dark moments in life. Lucy & Desi similarly shows that the happiest couple on TV can also be rocky and tumultuous beyond the screen.
Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie (1994) - Stream On Amazon Prime
Before Amy Poehler's documentary, the most insightful glimpse audiences could have at Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's life was Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie. The documentary includes archival footage, letters, and interviews with cast members of I Love Lucy as well as the couple's friends and family.
The narrative focuses on Ball's origins from her coming-of-age years to her Hollywood stardom and marriage with Desi Arnaz. It also gives the stories behind some of Lucille Ball's best TV moments. For the context that it provides, this serves as a perfect companion piece to go along with Lucy & Desi.
A Star Is Born (2018) - Stream On Apple TV
The third remake of the original, A Star Is Born serves as a modern update on a familiar story of tragic romance. Actor-turned-director Bradley Cooper stars in the film as a washed-out, alcoholic musician who discovers a promising newcomer played by Lady Gaga. As the two develop a professional and personal relationship, their ideals clash leading towards a chaotic love.
While A Star Is Born's case might be a bit extreme, Lucy & Desi shows that the two actors had their own fair share of clashes. Even though their creative visions were similar, their personal differences eventually lead to their divorce.
Frank & Cindy (2007) - Stream On Netflix
Frank & Cindy is a documentary that covers the troubled marriage of a down-on-luck musician and his disgruntled wife. Once famous for a one-hit-wonder song, Cindy Brown was Frank Garcia's groupie but now they just struggle with alcoholism and a mid-life crisis.
Captured on camera by their own son GJ Echternkamp, the documentary offers a brutally raw and honest look at the facadé of stardom and the grim realities underneath it. This contrast is what would impress fans of Lucy & Desi.
The Long, Long Trailer (1954) - Stream On Apple TV
A road comedy movie from the 1950s starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, this vintage classic takes place in a "trailer-home." As a newlywed couple starts living in their makeshift residence, they go through several comedic misadventures in the trailer.
Lucy & Desi is bound to pique the curiosity of cinephiles in knowing more about the couple's professional work. While I Love Lucy is an obvious example, the two also starred in several movies together with The Long Long Trailer being one of the most beloved ones.
Broken: The Incredible Story Of Brangelina (2018) - Stream On Tubi TV
When it comes to Hollywood power couples, Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) often comes to mind. But as iconic as they were together, they were also enigmatic. The documentary Broken relies on exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes anecdotes to understand the evolution of their relationship from the budding romance to the eventual divorce.
Even though Lucy & Desi tends to focus on its titular couple's happy phase, the documentary does hint towards their issues which lead to a shocking split. Broken is of a similar vein with its exploration of one of the most popular couples in showbiz.
Too Many Girls (1941) - Stream On Apple TV
Based on the musical of the same name, Too Many Girls stars Lucille Ball as a spoilt heiress who is protected by four football stars from Ivy League colleges who pose as her bodyguards. The movie is one of the earliest screen credits for both Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (who appears in a supporting role as one of the "bodyguards").
The musical comedy's importance stems from the fact that Too Many Girls marked the first on-screen appearance of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz together. The rest, as shown in Lucy & Desi, is Hollywood history.