I Say LOVEBIRDS Soars because of Issa Rae

We as a nation, if not the world, are experiencing a seismic shift in revealing & reviling systematic racism from plaguing & oppressing everyone; mainly people of color.  George Floyd's murder is an Emmett Till image seen by everyone that will not go unseen nor disregarded.  This is not a conventional review to a rom/com caper film but it's pertinent: a) humor is healing and needed at this time, b) the interracial couple seemed inconsequential in the film and c) casting of characters should not in anyway reflect any characteristic other than talent.  The romantic comedy stars a hilarious & convincing Issa Rae as Leilani and her lover of 3 years Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran.  Rae is currently starring on HBO in "Insecure."  Rae is riotously funny and emotionally touching in the series.  Nanjiani, a renown stand-up comic and star of "The Big Sick" plays more of a malleable, straight man to Rae's character.  The opening scene between Leilani and Jibran is sweet & tender starts to their relationship which quickly shifts 3 years later to find them living together.  No longer a relationship of kisses and romantic bliss.  Their bickering reveals a deeper disconnect which leads them to agree to break-up en-route to a dinner party.  The ride is fraught with bumps in the road and a shockingly funny yet gruesome murder in which they are unwittingly involved.  When a witness, after the fact, calls 911 they both decide to run on the count of 3.  The shenanigans are more ingenious than your typical crime riddled mystery.   Together, the two find themselves having each other's back.  Leilani's high heels & slapping steel some scenes.  And, there's some classic comedy duo pairing as the two fumble their way towards solving the crime to exonerate themselves.   Yes, if they had contacted the police from the start, that would have ended what turned into clever, delightfully funny interludes while risking their lives.  (Just go along for the ride).  The weakness lies in the obvious ending; bad white cop admitting his dastardly deeds and Jibran & Leilani outsmarting or outlasting him.  Rae is a rising star of comedic acting and Nanjiani smartly nuanced his comedy chops which made for a dynamo, comedy duo who found their way back into each other's hearts.  The obvious fact of the interracial coupling was a non-issue.  The film had terrific acting and direction by Michael Showalter ("The Big Sick") which Nanjiani starred in & co-wrote.  I don't wish to mitigate the current & on-going murders of unarmed people of color by white people.  I do however, want to recommend LOVEBIRDS as romantic comedy at this time of despair and this time of hope.  On the count of 3...go see.