Movie Review – The Lovebirds

The Lovebirds (2020)
Written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall
Directed by Michael Showalter

We’ve all been there, scrolling through Netflix and wondering what to watch. Sometimes it’s like playing Russian Roulette to find what’s right for you. With some of us lucky enough to work from home, sometimes being entertained during quiet times is necessary. Honestly, why work more? The work environment within the USA doesn’t bring us reason to go above and beyond, especially when the benefit doesn’t trickle down.

I will be throwing my opinions on shows and movies I’ve been indulging in. Unlike Seth, I am more willing to give it a chance despite the possible cheesiness about it.

The best meditation teachers say if you don’t accept the cheese or how weird it is, how will you ever achieve nirvana? Not that any of these shows or movies will give that to you.

The Lovebirds is a romcom with action in it. Is it a romcomtion? It’s the same story told in Date Night (2010) of a couple that feels as if they’re at the end of the road of their relationship, but then they’re caught in some criminal activity that tosses them into a new situation and viewing each other in a new light.

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani play a couple who have been dating and living together for four years. Leilani (Rae) and Jibran (Nanjiani) have chemistry on screen, but I don’t know if it’s sexual. They do feel genuine when they argue or communicate on screen. The way they banter makes this work naturally. Plenty of times, we’re stuck watching a movie, and sometimes the best lines are thrown for the male role, and/or he is this man-child who doesn’t want to grow up. Meanwhile, the female lead is the uptight one who is there to groan and complain.

In this one, Leilani is looking for excitement in their relationship while Jibran happens to be the one who works on a more tight schedule. We watch a montage at the beginning of them having probably hooked up the night before and then spent almost the whole day together. Issa Rae as Leilani on screen is so refreshing, her smile is so bright, and she’s so funny that you can understand why Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran falls in love with her.

The following scene is them fighting, oddly enough, about how she thinks they could win the Amazing Race reality show and he doesn’t. They’re at odds ends! They’re not on the same page!

It’s a small bite of what they’re about to get into. They do break up before all hell breaks loose.

The plot of how this happens isn’t deeply explained, but I am glad that they didn’t. Sometimes these movies try to make it seem as if the main characters are so intelligent they figure it out or have them freak out on how big the conspiracy is. I do wish that Jibran being a documentarian and having mentioned he was investigating corruption in the education system he maybe bragged about being right on how deep it goes. A bit where he keeps ranting and has to be told to shut up.

It touched on the whole “Eyes Wide Shut” thing of rich people in masks, doing sexual stuff, which okay, fine. I see that so much by now it’s a bit tiring.

Nonetheless, it’s okay for mindless fun. Anna Camp is in the movie shortly. Paul Sparks was in there, and I am now convinced he is so underrated.

It’s set in New Orleans, so thankfully, there were other BIPOC in there! All their friends were BIPOC, which was nice.

Beyond the whole crime thing, I think my favorite bit was when they go to a friend’s house to get into a stranger’s phone and change clothing. There was a heartfelt moment. Leilani is talking to a friend and tells them they’ve broken up. Her friend is confused as to why and her friend explains that any thoughts of herself and her fiance having crazy sex or never fighting is a lie, that she puts a front online because she has exes who follow her. On the other end, Jibran is talking to Leilani’s co-worker, who he is jealous about tells Jibran that Leilani brags about him all the time.

That was a real thing, unlike most romcoms that make jokes on how married or committed people never have sex, or love is dead once you’re with someone forever.

In the end, it’s a fun movie. If you’re looking for something deep or meaningful, move along.