Netflix's 'The Lovebirds' has fans swooning over Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani's simple, yet natural chemistry

What shines through the movie is the HBO comedic geniuses' (Rae's still on 'Insecure' and Nanjiani's 'Silicon Valley') chemistry proving Leilani and Jibran are two characters perfect for each other
PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2020
(Netflix)
(Netflix)

Spoilers for 'The Lovebirds' on Netflix 

Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae's 'The Lovebirds' is perhaps Netflix's best offering from the lot of its romantic comedies. Jibran (Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) surprisingly find themselves caught in a murder mystery. In a desperate bid to prove their innocence, the couple escapes the police and solve this murder on their own. But just before they ventured on this adventure — a series of misadventures — they had decided to break up their four-year-long relationship. Like most relationships, time had taken a toll on their love for each other and now mere remnants of that affection remained.

This mystery gives their relationship a chance to revisit the good times. All the unmet expectations they have had for each other over the last few years are all dissipated in the face of this life-threatening investigation. But what shines through the movie is the HBO comedic geniuses' (Rae's still on 'Insecure' and Nanjiani's 'Silicon Valley') chemistry. Simple yet natural, Leilani and Jibran are two characters perfect for each other. 

Fans of the actors think so too. "#TheLovebirds was such a great movie. @IssaRae and @kumailn were fantastic! 10/10 would recommend," tweeted a fan. "15 minutes into The Lovebirds and I’m already laughing my ass off. Definitely recommend!" added another. 

Their chemistry together is easily laudable. "I’m gonna need @IssaRae & @kumailn to reunite every few years for a new comedy because they are amazing together. #TheLovebirds," tweeted a fan. "I'm a few seconds into #TheLovebirds and the post-meet cute between @IssaRae and @kumailn is ridiculously high on chemistry. These two = *chefs kiss*," agreed another. 

Many fans are also applauding the casting on Nanjiani and Rae as an interracial couple — a point that plays an important part in the movie. After fleeing the crime scene, Leilani disagrees with Jibran's suggestion of going to the police because she is worried that the colour of their skins wouldn't give them a chance to prove their innocence. And so they embark on this investigation together. 

"I love an interracial couple where neither of them are white. #TheLovebirds," tweeted a fan. "#Thelovebirds has an interracial relationship that doesn’t involve whiteness. We love to see it," said another. "I hope #TheLovebirds sparks more diverse POC relationships on screen," they added. 'The Lovebirds' is currently streaming on Netflix. 



 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The sports drama raked in over $17 million on the weekend in North America upon Christmas release
36 minutes ago
Peacock's spy thriller opened to mixed reception from critics and Season 2 is yet to be greenlit
2 hours ago
'Greenland 2: Migration' is one of the much-awaited action-packed disaster flicks in 2026
2 hours ago
'Wednesday' star Percy Hynes White, 'Shaun of the Dead' alum Nick Frost, and 'Rebel Moon' standout Sky Yang are among the film's cast
6 hours ago
'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', directed by Nia DaCosta, is set to release in theatres on January 16, 2026
6 hours ago
As the creator of the 'Evil Dead' franchise, director Sam Raimi has a long relationship with the horror genre
10 hours ago
The picture expands on the tension teased in the 'Disclosure Day' trailer, showing Blunt making an unsettling sound during a live weather broadcast
11 hours ago
At the time of writing, there is no official word on a potential sequel
1 day ago
The lack of moolah, coupled with critics calling it a damp squib are believed to be major factors
2 days ago
Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone reunite for ‘Bugonia,’ a paranoia-soaked thriller now streaming, where conspiracies and truth blur in unsettling ways.
2 days ago