GREATEST EVENTS OF WWII IN COLOR – I’m a history buff, and this is a decent documentary using actual footage and revealing little known facts about the war and our involvement in it. I was shocked to learn how many American soldiers lost their lives fighting the Nazis and the Japanese. The numbers are staggering. Mike says he found the allies’ ability to “think outside the box” in impossible situations, thereby saving hundreds of lives, an incredible accomplishment. Indeed – beginning with the battle at Dunkirk and continuing to the end of the conflict. Comprised of ten episodes which include some spectacular footage of battles in the sky, it’s well worth your time. Cheers to the boys who fought so valiantly to protect America and stop Hitler and the women who made significant contributions off the battlefield. We toast you all in gratitude! Boyfriends & Girlfriends – 100s.

BEING THE RICARDOS – Having read several books and seen as many documentaries about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, I already knew their personal story. What was a complete surprise was Lucy’s curt interactions with everyone, even those closest to her. I’d always heard she was one tough broad, but I was taken aback at her behavior and wondered if it was an accurate depiction. Since her two children, Lucie & Desi Jr., are the exec-producers on this project I suppose it is. Nicole Kidman captures Lucy’s cadence well, but I still didn’t really see Lucy, at least not consistently. I didn’t believe Javier Bardem as Desi at all. Perhaps he was just miscast. His performance felt like he was always trying to be Desi, but never really becoming Desi. On the positive side, Nina Arianda and JK Simmons as Vivian Vance and William Frawley respectively were excellent. I saw the real folks in their portrayals. And I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes peek at the writers’ room of I Love Lucy in the 1950s. The film itself feels like some lesser-known facts of who these icons were individually, and to each other, were jammed into the story at random points which gave it a disjointed feel. Many of these scenes could have been eliminated. Perhaps Lucie and Desi Jr. felt it was important for us to know these things about their parents, but it wasn’t important to the script which depicts only one week in time – the week news broke of Lucy’s alleged ties to the Communist party. To that end, the final big scene of Desi telling the studio audience Lucy has been accused of being a Communist is riveting. Too bad the same can’t be said for the entire picture, although die-hard Lucy fans may enjoy it. Toasts, boyfriends/girlfriends – zero.

DON’T LOOK UP – More like don’t bother watching. The director, Adam Mackay, claims this film is a comedy. It’s not. It’s loaded with big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep so I expected a big delivery of quality entertainment. It delivered only big boredom and annoying performances. And it’s a never-ending saga…almost two and a half hours. I had to watch it in segments to get through it. I think it took me five viewings. It’s a good thing it was dropped exclusively on NetFlix. It would never have survived a traditional theatrical release. Skip it! Zero toasts, zero boyfriends/girlfriends.

DECOUPLED – Think Curb Your Enthusiasm meets Bombay. Produced in India with an Indian cast and crew, this new irreverent comedy series on NetFlix offers a quirky take on marriage, including ending one. Dialogue is the biggest issue for this show. Half the dialogue is in English and half is in Hindi. Even when the actors speak in English, their accents are so thick that subtitles are required to understand everything that’s going on. Some of the situations are over-the-top, but there are funny bits throughout the episodes. I like all the characters….even the less savory ones, and found myself interested in how everything would play out for the main couple. I especially like the actress playing the wife. She’s beautiful and delivers a great, low-key performance which is a perfect contrast to her boorish, loud husband. There are only eight half-hour episodes and I look forward to season two. Cheers!! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends -1.

RBG – What can I say about the Notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg? She’s a rock star, an icon and women everywhere owe her a debt! Hers is an intriguing tale of overcoming prejudice against the female sex and kicking the door open so the rest of us would have an easier time of it. And she wasn’t only about justice for women. She was equally engaged in ensuring fair, equitable rights for men when the Court was inclined to favor mothers over fathers without any justification other than they were mothers. This tiny pistol of a woman was soft-spoken, enjoyed opera and worked tirelessly seeking justice for all. Great piece documenting her life story. Thanks, RBG – we toast you. Cheers! Boyfriends/Girlfriends – 0.

GOOD HAIR – Chris Rock hosts this interesting look into black hair and its influence in the black community. Everything from the texture of the hair itself, to the enormous cost of a weave (thousands of dollars), to the social place it holds for both men and women which involves unspoken rules between the sexes. I learned women won’t let you touch their weave and men know they aren’t allowed to touch their weave. And they can’t get it wet either. Men have them too. And everyone pays basically the cost of a mortgage to buy human hair imported from India. And it’s not a one-time purchase. Weaves have to be replaced…..frequently. I had no idea about any of this and found the whole piece fascinating. I certainly learned a lot including it’s a good thing I’m not part of this community….I could never afford it or deal with the commitment of having good hair. Cheers!! Boyfriends/Girlfriends – 0.

BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY – Steve Young, long-time comedy writer for David Letterman, reveals his unique hobby in this quirky, off-beat documentary. Apparently back in the day, like mostly the 1950s-1970s, companies would produce full-length musicals (think Broadway) showcasing their products for in-house employees. These shows were recorded on LP albums for their employees only. Neither the shows, nor the albums, were ever seen or heard by anyone outside the company, and long-forgotten by everyone…..except Steve Young! Steve happened upon them by accident searching for comedy material for Letterman when Dave used to do his recurring record bit on his Late Night show. Some of these productions featured folks who became well-known and some who were talented but never heard of again…except by Steve Young! Turns out Steve discovered his passion! He has spent years searching for these albums, tracking down and meeting the talent who worked in them, and delivers a wonderful film documenting his journey as the process comes full circle. A wild, strange trip with a Broadway ending!! Cheers, Steve! Boyfriends/Girlfriends – 0.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP – Yes, Folks, another Christmas film, this one based on the true story of the U.S. Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian airlift training operation. It began in 1952 when the U.S. Air Force made a special Christmas delivery to people living on some of the most remote islands in the world, airdropping more than 3,200 pounds of cargo onto their beaches. It continues to this day. I salute them. It’s great to hear about the good things America is doing for a change, in this case for 70 years. As for the film, it doesn’t check any of my boxes (except for Kat). But it will check all of yours…Merry Christmas! Cheers!! Boyfriends – 0; Girlfriends – 1.

THE ALPINIST – Endearing tale of Marc-André Leclerc who unintentionally gained recognition for his unmatched ability to free solo climb some of the tallest peaks in the world. Watching him climb was alternately breathtaking and calming . We are always on edge expecting him to fall, as he climbs with a steady, quiet grace that is almost meditative. He seems to become one with the mountain. He climbs only for himself because his relationship with this alpine terrain is personal and private. Add to this his humility and disinterest in fame or fortune, and we find ourselves falling in love, which is only exacerbated by his quirky, non-conforming personality. Diagnosed on the spectrum when he was young, he was never going to have a typical journey. He found himself, and his calling, climbing the Canadian Rockies. His soul-mate, Brette, shares his love of climbing and desire to live simply – she’s willing to sleep with him outside in a box or a tent, and she does. They’re darling. Free solo climbing means you go alone with very little gear or provisions. Marc almost never took even a cell phone. Many times he is bare-handed and rope free as he gently ascends the rock. His climbs are mesmerizing and have earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues in the alpine world, and us too. Here’s to you Marc! Cheers!! Boyfriends – 1; Girlfriends – 1.