Killing it softly.

Of course, in this day and age there’s plenty out there to worry about. Pandemics, incompetent world leaders, whether the country can survive a summer without Love Island. You know, that sort of thing. Yet, above all else, what really strikes fear into my heart are the words ‘action’, ‘romantic’, and ‘comedy’ being thrown out there to describe a film without a shred of remorse.

Thankfully, it’s not a coming together that happens too often, but when it does, the resulting Frankenstein’s genre isn’t a pretty one. By forcing several conflicting genre tropes together, they tend to cancel one another out, leaving a mish-mash that’s far less than the sum of its parts.

As guilty as anyone on this count, Netflix’s never-ending content dump has seen them serve up several action romcom stinkers over the years. In fact, comedy on the whole appears to be the streaming giant’s major Achilles heel. So, as The Lovebirds arrives stuffed with so many comedy subgenres it feels ready to burst, hopes aren’t exactly high.

With their four-year relationship on the rocks, Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) look destined for a breakup when a chance encounter unintentionally embroils the pair in a murder. On a mission to clear their names, the couple embark on a journey from one farcical circumstance to the next, forcing them to figure out how both they and their relationship can survive the night.

With all its genre clichés laid out there for the world to see, The Lovebirds may feel like its setting itself up for a fall, however, the film succeeds precisely because of an acute self-awareness and its overtly modest ambitions. The film is a lightweight, throwaway piece of escapist popcorn cinema (or, you know, popcorn streaming), and it knows it.

While it’s not in any way original, the film’s setup is a fun one. Refusing to take itself too seriously, The Lovebirds lets its brisk and breezy murder mystery plot roll out without anything getting in the way of either the comedy or its stars.

All too often, this brand of farcical comedy hijinks leans so heavily in on overblown action that any laughs are inevitably overshadowed, yet, despite some wobbles, The Lovebirds finds its footing by keeping things simple and playing to its strengths. Despite the odd bit of raunch and an energetic murder mystery plot, the film is about as lightweight and harmless as they come, however, its two leads ensure that this lack of substance never poses too much of a problem.

With such a disposable plot, The Lovebirds really is one of those genre efforts that lives or dies on the strength of its leads, and in Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, the film has struck upon the kind of winning partnership that any romcom would kill for. With a natural, easy-going chemistry, the pair have that secret ingredient that separates the romcom wheat from the chaff – believability – and with such romantic credibility, it’s easy to look past many of its narrative shortcomings.

In short, Rae and Nanjiani are wonderful together, something that should not be underestimated within a genre so reliant on the appeal of its central couple. Charming and naturally witty, the duo riff off one another brilliantly, and while their rapid-fire sardonic banter can wear a little thin at times, they are never less than engaging throughout.

Perhaps most importantly, especially for a genre largely dominated by white romance, the inclusion of two non-Caucasian actors feels like a genuine breath of fresh air. Without ever feeling forced, the casting of African-American Rae and Pakistani-American Nanjiani brings some much-needed representation to a corner of cinema where minorities are so often relegated to side characters (at best).

Loose and conversational, the film’s writing works well in tandem with the natural energy of its stars; however, the adlibbed quality of the dialogue and the script’s baggy approach produce hit-and-miss results. Often seeming like one long observational stand-up routine, the dialogue occasionally feels forced, with several gags falling flat, yet, despite the odd clunker, there’s a real reluctance to fall prey to the same obvious traps as many likeminded comedies. 

There’s always a disheartening sense of déjà vu whenever any film takes the easy route through its comedy, and despite the broad predictability of its plot, The Lovebirds swerves the obvious jokes and the urge to replace well-constructed writing for lowest common denominator gags. As Jibran and Leilani bumble their way through a number of increasingly absurd situations, there’s certainly an overwhelming sense of farce to the plot, yet it never feels lazy, helped no end by the energy and enthusiasm of Rae and Nanjiani themselves. 

Bolstering the murder mystery shenanigans, the film’s real win is in its astute and well rendered central relationship. Of course, The Lovebird’s stars fizzle with a natural chemistry, however, a good portion of its charm comes from how on-point the writing is between the two.

Painfully accurate for anyone who has been in or around a faltering romance, the script, together with Michael Showalter’s direction, hits the sweet spot by constructing a thoroughly relatable romcom relationship. Despite the film’s heightened circumstances, Leilani and Jibran’s partnership always feels admirably down-to-earth, and it’s in this relatability that the film hits its mark.

Ultimately, The Lovebirds offers nothing particularly new, even within a genre not known for its originality, yet anyone expecting anything revolutionary is missing the point entirely. We could be here all day picking holes in the film’s plot and interrogating its glaring clichés, but then life is far too short for that.

The Lovebirds is what it is – bright, breezy fun and harmless to its core. It’s a back-to-basic high concept romcom elevated several levels by the charm and charisma of its leads. As Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani work wonders with the solid, if insubstantial, material they’re given, The Lovebirds offers the kind of no-strings date night fun that Netflix was made for. Never promising more than it can deliver, The Lovebirds leans heavily on the killer chemistry of its stars to deliver an enjoyable, if unspectacular, ride.

The Lovebirds is available to stream on Netflix now.