'The Lovebirds' Preview: Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani's hilarious, warm chemistry is an absolute treat to watch
Spoilers for 'The Lovebirds'
Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) presumably meet on a dating app. From the very first meeting, they can hardly get enough of each other as their evening together turns into a night plan and then the next day, they get breakfast together.
The two have an undeniable connection and can hardly seem to keep their hands off of each other. Leilani and Jibran are the picture-perfect couple when they meet.
But as is the case with relationships, they evolve. Four years after their first meeting, the two now live together and argue about the smallest of issues. The very adorable, heartwarming montage of their love from the first few minutes of the movie gives way to a taxing scene of their argument.
It seems like a household tussle at first but their argument oscillates between how they would fare on 'The Amazing Race' and this guy in Leilani's friend circle rubs Jibran the wrong way.
On their way to this gathering, they find themselves in the most unconventional of circumstances. Their car is commandeered by someone claiming to be a police officer chasing a criminal on a cycle. A long chase later, the car hits the cycle and kills the cyclist in the process. It is now clear to Leilani and Jibran that their car's driver is a killer.
The duo immediately flee the crime scene thinking the color of their skin will be enough for the police to declare them suspects. So they now decide to solve the murder by themselves without approaching the police for help. Needless to say, this decision had hilarious consequences and while on the run they turn a new page in their lives.
Just before their car was commandeered, they were discussing their relationship and had eventually broken up. Solving the murder mystery by themselves breathed life into their relationship - rekindled their love for each other and gave themselves a second chance.
It is hardly doubtful that Leilani and Jibran share a strong chemistry. From the get go, they are a strong pairing that might have flaws but are impervious to external criticisms; it hardly applies to them because even though they think they're on different planes, they're really on the same plane, only at a distance.
Just as their relationship is saved by a murder mystery, maybe yours will too. Or, on a more realistic note, you could try and participate in an escape room to spruce things up.
Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall, Nanjiani and Rae successfully carry the movie on their shoulders with ease. It's not a laugh riot, no, but it'll undoubtedly keep your spirits up.
'The Lovebirds' will premiere on Netflix.
