AAFCA Roundtable Series: a chat with THE LOVE BIRDS executive producer/actress ISSA RAE

“In reading (the script), I was cracking up. The relationship dynamics and the idea of this couple on the brink of a breakup having to rely on one another to solve a murder was hilarious to me.” Issa Rae

And that, in a nutshell, describes the premise of the new Netflix film THE LOVEBIRDS – a romantic comedy/action comedy/mystery that stars executive producers Kumail Nanjiani, co-writer of the 2017 Academy Award®-nominated screenplay for The Big Sick, and Issa Rae, creator and star of the Emmy Award®-nominated comedy Insecure and lead in one of my favorite romantic films The Photograph.

The film briefly follows Leilani (Rae) and Jabran (Nanjiani) in their initial courtship – which shows an immediate attraction and love sparks from their first meeting – then fast forwards to four years later, where we find the now live-in couple trading angry and cynical barbs. They mutually agree that the relationship has run its course, but a twist of fate propels them into one murderous and comical evening – where they must rely on and trust each other more than they’d believed was possible hours earlier.

Like Ms. Rae in the aforementioned quote, I was elated to see the relationship dynamics – especially with Pakinstani-American and African-American leads in a love story. And I believe that story certainly started off strong. I loved the first four minutes, was invested and disappointed in the relationship breakdown, and cracking up at the deadly, but humorous, situation in which they found themselves.

However, after about 30 minutes and throughout the remainder of the movie, I chuckled at only a few parts – and it wasn’t the consistent and hearty laughter that I’d expect from two of the funniest folk on the planet.

Unfortunately, I was not “in love” with THE LOVEBIRDS and would rate it 2.5 out of 5 beats on the MMTrometer.

But, I was exceedingly hype about interviewing the dynamic Issa Rae, along with several members of the AAFCA family last week. You can watch a snippet with my questions below, and watch the full video on The AAFCA Channel on YouTube here.

THE LOVEBIRDS premiered Friday, May 22 and is streaming now on NETFLIX.

Until next thought, Thomsena