IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

Netflix's newest original comedy movie has arrived during quarantine, and thank god it's not nearly as bad as most are! Dubbed The Lovebirds, this mesh of action and rom-com succeeds with some terrific laughs, loads of fun, and a simplistic, easy-to-follow plot. It only clocks at about 86 minutes, it's always fast-paced enough to entertain and the chemistry between Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae is fabulous. There are some absurd scenes, and it can feel like the run-of-the-mill film in the genre, but overall, audiences should have a solid time. And best-of-all, this thing's for free! What stood out for me the most was how diverse this film was, casting two leads of color isn't common at the moment, and this breaks new ground in that respect. Hey, I'm not saying that this has any chance of becoming a classic in the distant future, but at the moment, don't we all need some dumb giggles?

Jibran (Nanjiani) and Leilani (Rae) are a new couple who are struggling with the occasional argument. However, one day when they are driving to a party they seemingly become framed for a murder they didn't commit. With the cops on their tail, the two of them must put aside personal issues to solve the crime and clear their names. There's nothing exactly wrong with the plot, but it does seem pretty conventional for an action-comedy. And in some ways, you can compare it to the better Game Night, which doesn't help. Still, I didn't have a big issue with it, and the comic relief often overwhelms the film's flaws.

The cast is no question, the shining star of the movie, and likely one of the few things that kept me on board. Kumail Ninjiani continues to let the world know that he is one of the funniest people alive today, bringing plenty of good fun to his leading role once again. He received loads of praise for his performance in The Big Sick and has made small appearances in many other movies. Hell, I even enjoyed the guy in Stuber, which, to be very honest, was little more than a guilty pleasure. Issa Rae as well is truly a rising star, and has an upcoming major horror film, Antebellum, which looks damn creepy. Otherwise, she stars in HBO's Insecure, #BlackAF, and has stand-out performances in The Photograph and The Hate U Give. She's no different in this, again proving she can hold her own in a comedy.

I was a little let-down by the fact that this is the director of the legendary film The Big Sick! Filmmaker Michael Showalter is a little auto-pilot here, going through the motions solidly, though not as well as he did with his other big flick. But this is different. The movie wasn't trying to be a smart, innovative achievement in cinema; it was plainly going for some entertainment. And in that respect, it worked. The back-and-forth banter between the two well-matched leads, and the breezily enjoyable premise makes it worth watching, not the fact that it's the film of the year. Sometimes, I think we need something of this caliber, nothing life-changing, but serviceable and fun.

The final opinion is: The Lovebirds is certainly forgettable, but the well-matched leads, constant laughs, and fast-pace make it worth a view...$TREAM IT

WATCH ON NETFLIX

Rated: R (for sexual content, language throughout and some violence)

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes

Directed By: Michael Showalter