New comedy THE LOVEBIRDS is, blessedly, now out on Netflix. And it's a gift. Here's screenwriter & culture writer @alannabennett to tell you why. (thread)

THE LOVEBIRDS stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple who are accidentally implicated in a murder and take it upon themselves to solve the crime and clear their names. But, you know, in a funny way. It's a slapstick adventure — and a throwback in the best way.

THE LOVEBIRDS feels like a throwback to the Steve Carrell and Tina Fey vehicle DATE NIGHT. That movie was also about a case of mistaken identity that sent a couple on a big comedic adventure.

DATE NIGHT was also an excuse for audiences to spend some quality time with two very talented people who were fast becoming icons in their own right. That's what THE LOVEBIRDS is, too. Watching the movie feels like cementing Rae and Nanjiani into their reigns as comedy royalty.

Rae and Nanjiani are already both *very* successful actors and creators. He has an Oscar nom and a Marvel role, she has a beloved series and several starring roles. But what's exciting about both is how it feels like they've only just begun showing us what they've got.

THE LOVEBIRDS is, frankly, a rollicking blast, in large part because of what Rae and Nanjiani bring to the table. There's a bit where Nanjiani's character Jibran parkours off a bed to neutralize a perceived threat and I laugh just *thinking* about it.

Rae's line deliveries when her character Leilani is failing to act natural are unparalleled. No one's ever lied to a cop worse.

Part of what makes THE LOVEBIRDS work is that Rae and Nanjiani are both so good at being bad "straight men" in scenes. They lean all the way in.

There are plenty of moments when Rae and Nanjiani’s characters are forced to act like they know what they're doing in order to survive. Spoiler alert: They never know what they're doing. Watching them fail at being chill brought me so much joy.

There's one scene where their characters get stuck in an EYES WIDE SHUT orgy situation. When the music starts, Leilani starts grooving to it when, as Jibran puts it… that's not quite the vibe.

The way Rae and Nanjiani play with the absurdity of their characters' situation is all the proof we should need to cast them in 1000 more big things. They've snatched that damn comedy crown.

We've had our DATE NIGHT successor. Now I'd like Rae and Nanjiani in a new spin on HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, or SPY — on top of whatever completely new things with new perspectives that they want to create for us.

Bottom line is: All THE LOVEBIRDS did is make me want more Rae and Nanjiani in big fun comedies that momentarily distract from the horrors of the world. Lucky for me I can just… rewind to the beginning and press play again.

THE LOVEBIRDS is now on Netflix globally.