The Lovebirds – Film Review

A couple, Jibran and Leilani, (Issa Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) experience a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme– and hilarious — circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

When you go into a movie such as The Lovebirds, you have to recognize what kind of movie you are in for. Those that go into a film such as this one expecting anything more than a cute and easy-breezy romantic comedy are going to let down terribly.

That’s not to say that romantic comedies are bad or anything. They’re not usually the type of film I would put on when I want to watch something that will blow me away, but that being said, every once in a while I do enjoy a fluffy, lighthearted flick if it manages to tell a sweet enough love story and has some good jokes up its sleeves.

Gratefully, Michael Showalter’s The Lovebirds is exactly that type of film. It’s not going to stick in your head for weeks, months, or even years after you watch it, but it is more than likely going to entertain you while you’re watching it thanks to its genuinely great sense of humor and charismatic performances from its two leads.

Kumail Nanjiani (left) as Jibran and Issa Rae (right) as Leilani in The Lovebirds (2020).

Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae deliver some of the best performances of their career in The Lovebirds. They are one-hundred-percent feasible as a couple that are in the midst of a hard time and a shake-up here, working together to do whatever is necessary in order to clear their names and survive. Their chemistry is absolutely wonderful and always felt extremely natural and charming.

A lot of the time, we will jump between location to location here, ensuring that there is always something of interest happening on-screen. Sure, there are some dull moments that are a little bit boring, especially one sequence taking place at a theatre in the third act that felt like it would never end, but it’s usually always moving and fast-paced.

In addition to that, the script by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall is full of amazing jokes that managed to make me laugh and put a smile on my face. They’re not some of the best jokes I’ve heard in a movie in a while, but they were funny enough to keep me entertained throughout the running time.

At the end of the day, this is a completely watchable, funny flick that you can put on during a Friday night and just kick back and relax. Nothing about it makes you think and it’s not going to stay in your head for a while, but those that are looking for a fun escape should be in luck with this one.

The Lovebirds may be a little bit forgettable and formulaic but its great sense of humor and wonderful performances from Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae make it worth watching.

Overall Grade: B

MPAA Rating: R for sexual content, language throughout and some violence

Cast: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer, Andrene Ward-Hammond, Kelly Murtagh, Moses Storm, Mahdi Cocci, Barry Rothbart, Catherine Cohen

Directed by: Michael Showalter

Distributed by: Netflix

Release Date: May 22, 2020

Running Time: 87 minutes