Movie Review - The Lovebirds

Director: Michael Showalter

Genre: Comedy/ Crime/ Action

Runtime: 86 minutes

Year: 2020

Starring: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Nicolas X. Parsons, Kyle Bornheimer, Barry Rothbart, Catherine Cohen, Andrene Warren-Hammond

Description: Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) experience a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.

WEEK 39: A MURDER MYSTERY

Review: Jibran and Leilani’s relationship is on the verge of falling apart. Busily arguing, they are on their way to a party where neither of them seems to really want to go to. While they are breaking up in the car, they accidentally hit a bicyclist. Before they know it, they are in the middle of an insane criminal conspiracy and experience a bizarre adventure of cults, corrupt governors and murder.  

The film opens with a flashback of how Jibran and Leilani fall in love after their first date. Four years later there seems little left of this love. In a funny quarrel between the two, all the painful points of their relationship come to the surface. When the insane events pile up, their love story is also magnified.

Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae are well on their way in the beginning of the film. Their fantastic comedic timing makes for particularly funny conversations and quarrels between the two and they seem to be working very well together. The dialogues are quick and funny. After that, the film soon loses sight of the humor. Action and crime get the upper hand and overshadow the funny bits. It still has its moments, but the script becomes dependent on the many bizarre situations in which the couple get stuck. I actually found the scene with the weird cult very funny, due to the hilarious comment of Jibran and Leilani.

Michael Showalter’s previous film was “The Big Sick”, in which Nanjiana also had the lead role. This was a fantastic and unforgettable film, funny and witty filled with feeling. Compared to this movie “The Lovebirds” is quite empty and soulless. Nanjiani is still on a roll, but the characters are quite disposable and overall the film is more forgettable.

“The Lovebirds” was originally supposed to be showing in cinemas. However, due to the crisis, it was postponed and eventually bought by Netflix. I think that’s a win for the film, because I think more people will watch it at home then in theaters. Although it’s not a great comedy, I still think it’s a little above average because of the two leads. And it does have its moments, so it’s good for a fun movie night where you don’t want to have to think too much. And for that only, I think it’s still worth a watch.

Rating: 3 / 5