The Lovebirds (2020)

Rom-coms are my favorite genre right behind Rom-drams (did I make that up?) and Rom-roms (definitely made that one up). On top of that, a romantic comedy where the leads are a non-White interracial couple? The representation makes my heart swell.

So you can imagine how excited I was to park my butt and watch The Lovebirds, directed by Michael Showalter and starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani. As sad as I was to have to watch it from my couch rather than the big screen due to the ‘Rona.

One thing about Hollywood is the show will go on.

Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) have come to a crossroads in their relationship. After honeymoon bliss turns to who can jab the hardest and deepest at each argument, they both decide maybe it’s time to call it quits. Before they can successfully fully commit to the breakup, a hitman posing as a cop hijacks their car while they’re on the way to a party. Said hitman uses the vehicle as his deadly weapon of choice to run over his target multiple times with Jibran and Leilani along for the ride.

Fun!

After the hitman escapes on foot, the couple realizes they are left in broad daylight standing over a body that has been mutilated by a car registered to them. As witnesses dial 911, they make a run for it. In an attempt to prove themselves from the narrative of this hit gone wrong, chaos ensues.

Issa and Kumail make an excellent comedic duo; their banter and bickering was probably the most entertaining part of the film for me. Though it’s hard to buy Jibran as the unambitious washed up schlub, the movie wants us to believe he is with Nanjiani’s ripped (you can see his abs through his shirt) body. We can thank The Eternals for that. I would love to see these two together onscreen again.

The Lovebirds is ultimately the Millennial version of 2010’s Date Night. Just as kooky with a pinch more violence and a dash more drama. I think those that enjoyed the Fey/Carell suburban couple on the run comedy will also really enjoy this one.

The Lovebirds is now streaming on Netflix.