Two lines of dialogue stood out to me in Being the Ricardos: “I literally said that 30 seconds ago,” and “It takes fewer words to say that than the truth.” The movie felt like an example of the first, when it should have been more like the second. It's strange that a film titled Being the Ricardos spends so much screen time on Ethel/Vivian Vance (played by Nina Arianda) and Fred/William Frawley (J.K. Simmons), characters who weren’t particularly important 70 years ago, and still aren't of great interest today. Writer/director Aaron Sorkin tries to give the film a documentary feel with present-day asides featuring people involved in I Love Lucy discussing it—similar to Reds. However, Reds worked because those interviewed were who they actually were, not actors pretending to be older versions of characters already portrayed by younger performers within the main story. These interruptions mostly repeat things we've just seen or are about to see dramatized, and offer nothing beyond that; they’re simply filler, which is the last thing a movie lasting over two hours needs. The plot seems to center on a regular week of filming I Love Lucy, including rehearsals and production. A behind-the-scenes look at how one of television's most influential shows was made should have been enough to hold viewers’ attention. But Sorkin brings up significant events only to brush them aside quickly. For instance, Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman, barely recognizable) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem, perfectly cast for his consistent mispronunciation of English words) are expecting a second child, though their firstborn is so unimportant to Sorkin that she’s mentioned several times but only appears briefly. This aspect is brought up and discussed, but never really dealt with, and the reason for this is clear: since much of the film takes place over just one week (interspersed with flashbacks that feel unnecessary), her pregnancy doesn't get a chance to become part of the story. Another event that Sorkin mentions but doesn’t explore at all is Lucille Ball’s accusation of being a communist. It’s presented as a minor inconvenience, when it should have had a much greater impact on her career—and if it didn’t, what was so remarkable about Ball that this barely registered? Overall, Being the Ricardos dedicates far too much time to things that aren't essential. Cutting back the length and focusing more on substance might have transformed this 125-minute film into a tighter, more enjoyable 90-minute experience.

Source on TMDB