'Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union' looks back on his life and legacy

Timed to the former president's 60th birthday, "Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union" seeks to be the definitive document on Barack Obama's life and presidency, and at five-plus hours over three nights, mostly succeeds in that daunting task.

Given the Obamas' producing relationship with Netflix -- which recently aired the documentary devoted to Michelle Obama's book "Becoming" -- it's interesting to see HBO lay its claim to the 44th president. The only thing really missing from director Peter Kunhardt's meticulously assembled production is much consideration of Obama's post-presidential life, but in Hollywood, you save something for the sequel. (CNN and HBO are both part of WarnerMedia.) Part I opens with Obama's 2008 speech on race, in which he noted that America has "no choice" but to pursue a more perfect union. That's bookended in the last chapter by his final presidential address in January 2017, leaving behind a bittersweet sense of what was accomplished -- and what wasn't -- during those years.