Critics’ guide on what to watch this weekend

Amy Poehler — who knows a thing or two about making funny TV in male-dominated rooms — makes her directing debut with this affectionate documentary portrait of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. A fine companion piece to the recent “Being the Ricardos” — or, honestly, a replacement for it — the bio-doc covers similar ground, including the couple’s business acumen, their romantic woes, battles with censors and the love that endured long after they were divorced. What makes it better than “Ricardos” is Lucy, who comes off as frank, kind and insightful in tape recordings made for a book that now function as a kind of narration. Friday, Amazon Prime

If “The Office” was set on the Jolly Roger, it might play out like this sinister new comedy created by David Jenkins. “Flight of the Conchords” scene stealer Rhys Darby is hilarious as the bored socialite who wants to be a swashbuckling pirate — as long as it doesn’t involve any blood. Part of the fun is seeing which “Saturday Night Live” players you recognize under heavy pancake makeup. And, yes, that’s Oscar-winning writer Taika Waititi on board as a brooding Blackbeard. Thursday, HBO Max

The landmark drama launched many movie careers, including Angela Bassett and future Oscar winners Regina King and Cuba Gooding Jr. It also marked late writer/director John Singleton as a formidable talent. A coming-of-age tale about a young man (Gooding) trying to survive in gang-dominated South Central Los Angeles, “Boyz” veers expertly between tragedy and comedy and shines a spotlight on dozens of surprising, complicated characters. HBO Max