‘Lovebirds,’ ‘Wolf House’ worth streaming
Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani make an ideal comic team in a new Netflix release
Netflix washes away the curdled aftertaste of its dreadful “Coffee & Kareem” with “The Lovebirds,” a cuckoo comedy about a feuding couple that recalls some of the best wisecracking rom-coms of yesteryear. The laugh-till-it-hurts bit of malarkey stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani and was set for a theatrical release by Paramount in April until theaters were shuttered by the coronavirus. Now Netflix has it and, rather than wallow in uncertainty, “Lovebirds” can whistle a much happier tune. Rae (“Insecure”) and Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley,” “The Big Sick”) play Leilani and Jibran, a New York couple flirting with splitsville. They make for one of the best comedic teams in years, with impeccable timing and solid chemistry. The story turns on a carjacking that forces the feuding pair to become amateur sleuths trying to clear their names and winds up veering into a bit of “Eyes Wide Shut”-style outlandishness. Director Michael Showalter has worked with Nanjiani before, and they should keep at it. After a blitz of bad films of late, Nanjiani, a talented screenwriter-actor-producer, gets material that suits him. Rae gives yet another star-making performance, shifting from comedy to drama with grace. DETAILS >> ★★★ out of 4; available Friday on Netflix.
Other new releases “THE TRIP TO GREECE” >>
Need a vacation? Escape cinematically with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in the fourth and reportedly final film in their road trip series featuring sumptuous food, gorgeous scenery, celebrity impressions and lots of dialogue about middle-aged angst. The first film remains the best, but this is a good chapter in which the locale makes a worthy backdrop for a mix of comedy and tragedy. DETAILS >> ★★★ available Friday on various platforms and at some drive-in theaters, check www.westwinddi.com for any Bay Area times.
“THE WOLF HOUSE” >>
In one of the most unusual and exciting film experiences of the year, Cristobal Leon and Joaquin Cocina use stop-motion animation to tell a dark Chilean fable set during Pinochet’s reign of terror. A young woman escaping persecution finds refuge in a magical house that changes to mirror her moods. It’s a landmark feat of animation; a surreal adult film that explores intense themes in a way that will remind some of Guillermo del Toro. It’s ingenious. DETAILS >> ★★★★ ; available at Roxie Theater virtual cinema series; www.roxie.com.
“LAST MOMENT OF CLARITY” >>
Any movie with Samara Weaving in it is worth a watch. In this satisfying neo-noir, the “Ready or Not” and “Hollywood” star is cast as a is-she-or-isn’t-she femme fatale for a grieving ex, played with a convincing mix of emo and toughness by Berkeley native Zach Avery. Ably assisting in making this genre-twister a keeper are Brian Cox, Udo Kier and the charming Carly Chaikin. I appreciated the depth of “Clarity’s” characters and an unexpected finale. DETAILS >> ★★★ available on various platforms.
“BODY CAM” >>
There’s a scene wedged into this mostly successful hybrid of horror film and social commentary when Mary J. Blige lets loose a wrenching cry. It pierces your soul. The singer-turned-actress proves again she’s got acting talent, this time playing a cop who lost her son and returns to the force after a leave of absence. She’s saddled with a baby-faced rookie (Nat Wolff) and a cop killer with supernatural mojo. Director Malik Vitthal weaves a dark tale but effectively shines a light on racism and police brutality. The ending is missing something, though. DETAILS >> ★★★ available on various platforms.
“PROXIMITY” >>
Editor-animator-cinematographer Eric Demeusy, who grew up in Pleasanton, lacks a big budget but not the massive ambition for his feature-film director’s debut, a valentine to Steven Spielberg. Oscillating from campy to gleefully entertaining, Demeusy throws everything at us — romance, chase scenes and even awkward Christian symbolism. A young NASA lab employee gets abducted by aliens and tries to figure out what his close encounter was all about. Some of this sticks, other times it slides. But Demeusy has talent; now he just needs to rein in his energy and work with better material. DETAILS >> ★★★ ; available on various platforms.
“BEN PLATT: LIVE FROM RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL”>>
With all the house parties going down during these shelter-in-place times, do we want to hang with the “Dear Evan Hansen” star? Why, yes. The charismatic singer-actor shares stories about his family, his loves and his bouts with anxiety. How he makes Radio City Music Hall seem so cozy illustrates how the endearing Platt and his songs can touch our souls. No wonder he’s adored by all. DETAILS >> ★★★ available on Netflix.