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    Movie Review

    The Lovebirds earns points for its stars, if not its by-the-numbers story

    Alex Bentley
    May 22, 2020 | 9:25 am
    The Lovebirds earns points for its stars, if not its by-the-numbers story
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    The key to a good romantic comedy is the two lead actors being believable as a couple. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing or how outlandish the scenarios they get into; as long as the two actors have great chemistry, the rest of the story usually falls into place.

    The Lovebirds, which was supposed to come out in theaters on April 3 but was subsequently sold to Netflix following the global pandemic, subverts the normal expectations of the romantic comedy in several ways. It’s not about a couple falling in love, it’s one about questioning love. Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) are shown on an ideal first date in an opening montage, but the film as a whole deals with them four years later as they’re facing the prospect of possibly breaking up.

    That potential break-up is put on hold when Jibran and Leilani inadvertently get into a murder mystery, with their car being used as the murder weapon by carjacker. Unable to prove it wasn’t them who killed a man, they go on the hunt for clues to the identity of the real killer, leading them into some very strange places.

    Directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) and written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall, the film uses the bickering of Jibran and Leilani as the basis for its humor. The two constantly pick at each other, with their arguments getting them into trouble and out of it depending on the situation. It’s an effective strategy, as both Nanjiani and Rae are HBO comedy veterans who know how to elicit laughs.

    The film is notable for putting two people of color as its leads and addressing issues specific to people like them in clear but light ways. Talk about racial profiling and the inherent privilege that white people have in the world dot the landscape of the film, but in matter-of-fact ways instead of in a social justice warrior way. This acknowledgment allows the characters to remain fun while still staying true to a certain sensibility.

    Funnily enough, the actors’ romantic compatibility becomes a problem because of their respective acting styles. The two pair well visually, but they both act in such a naturally heightened way that it’s difficult to see them as romantic partners. That’s not helped by them being at odds for much of the film, rarely allowing the audience the luxury of picturing them in love.

    The story of the film is nothing to write home about. The villain of the film (Paul Sparks) is as vanilla as they come, and the “crazy” situations in which they find themselves are rather tame compared with other similar comedies. The filmmakers either needed to lean more into the insanity or more into Jibran and Leilani’s relationship, but both are given relatively short shrift.

    Still, Nanjiani and Rae have enough charisma to make the 90-minute film watchable. Nanjiani has overcome the burden of being stereotyped to become a bona fide movie star, with his next role being in Marvel’s The Eternals. Rae has written her own ticket in Hollywood, serving as creator and executive producer on Insecure, and heading up multiple other projects. This film doesn’t work all the way through, but that’s merely a bump in the road for both of them.

    We live in a world where the difference between “theater” movies and “streaming” movies has all but vanished, but The Lovebirds shows that it can live in both worlds. It’s too bad that Nanjiani and Rae didn’t get a chance to show their skills on the big screen, but the film’s faults maybe make it for the best that the film ended up possibly getting more eyes on Netflix.

    Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in The Lovebirds.

    Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in The Lovebirds
      
    Photo by Skip Bolen/Netflix
    Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in The Lovebirds.
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    Catch a Wave

    Best Dallas waterparks to keep you cool during summer 2025

    Alex Bentley
    May 23, 2025 | 3:59 pm
    Fireside Surf
    Fireside Surf
    Fireside Surf

    If anything is guaranteed in Dallas, it's that summer will be hot. Maybe that's why waterparks and other splashy entertainment venues are so massively popular here. Just say the word water, and step aside for the throngs.

    Fortunately, Dallas has it all: from glitzy indoor waterparks to wave machines to municipal parks adding slides and other amenities to get in on the fun, there are plenty of options for those looking to splash around — some of which are opening for the season this Memorial Day weekend.

    Here's out list of the great waterpark options available in Dallas during the summer of 2025.

    Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
    Not only does Epic Waters in Grand Prairie offer some of the best waterpark options in the area, it's also one of the few indoor venues, allowing visitors to stay out of the sun while having fun. It boasts a bunch of slides that offer a range of thrills, a large lazy river, a FlowRider surf machine, an outdoor wave pool, and more. And unlike outdoor waterparks, it is open year-round, letting visitors splash around whenever they want. Open daily at 10 am; closing time varies by day. Tickets range from $34-$54; annual passes available for $199.

    Get Your Surf On
    While Epic Waters offers a version of surfing, two other venues offer the opportunity to get on an actual surfboard and tackle waves as high as six feet: Both Goodsurf Beach Club in Deep Ellum and Fireside Surf in The Colony have a Citywave surf machine that allows visitors to show off their surfing skills on a never-ending wave. Both offer surfing lessons for the inexperienced. If you'd rather watch, both have cabanas, bars, and restaurants to sit back and watch others either hang ten or wipe out. Goodsurf Beach Club is open 10 am-10 pm on Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, 8 am-midnight on Friday and Saturday. Surfing starts at $45 per person. Fireside Surf opens for the season on June 1. It will be open 11 am-7 pm daily. Prices TBD.

    Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
    The biggest waterpark in Dallas-Fort Worth, located in Arlington, features 12 thrill rides, most notably Der Stuka, a free fall slide that's not for the faint of heart. New for the 2025 season is Splash Island, a multi-level interactive play structure with a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, colorful water slides, cabanas, and more for families to enjoy. With a lazy river, Surf Lagoon, multiple other slides for less adventurous people, and more, there are plenty of options to keep visitors busy all day long. Opens for the season on May 24; season runs through September 1. Open daily at 11 am; closing time varies by day. $20 and up for daily passes when purchased online; season passes start at $65.

    WorldSprings
    Not a waterpark in the regular definition, WorldSprings at Grandscape in The Colony features more than 40 mineral hot springs with temperatures ranging from the mid 80s to the low 100s, as well as cold plunges at 55 degrees. One is called Dead Sea, a hypersaline pool that allows guests to float effortlessly. Visitors can also enjoy saunas, fire pits, a cafe and bar, and poolside drink service. Most of the areas are for adults only, but those under 18 are welcome at the Globe Pool in the South Pacific Region. Open 10 am-9 pm Sunday-Thursday, 9 am-10 pm Friday and Saturday. $49-$85 for adults, $24-$29 for kids under 18.

    Hawaiian Waters
    While not as big as Hurricane Harbor, the two Hawaiian Waters locations in Garland and The Colony offer plenty of amenities that make them great waterparks. They each feature thrill rides like Waikiki Wipeout & The Flyin' Hawaiian, the Oahu Bay wave pool, the family-friendly Keiki Kove, the Kona Kooler lazy river, and more. Open daily from May 24-August 9, Saturday and Sunday only August 16-September 27 (September 20 in Garland). Opens 10:30 am most days; closing time varies by day. $24.99 and up for daily pass; $39.99 for season pass.

    Great Wolf Lodge Water Park
    More indoor waterpark fun can be found in Grapevine at Great Wolf Lodge. And their version tries to offer a little bit of everything, with options including thrill rides like Coyote Cannon and Howlin' Tornado, family-friendly areas like Fort Mackenzie and the Crooked Creek lazy river, an outdoor lagoon, and two hot springs - one for adults and one for families. Open 10 am-8 pm Monday-Friday, 9 am-8 pm Saturday and Sunday. $35 and up for day pass; $29.75 and up for half-day pass.

    The Cove at the Lakefront
    What, yet another inside waterpark? Little Elm gets in on the action with The Cove at The Lakefront. Though not as big as the other versions on this list, it still features the Tower Slides that take visitors on a twisty ride in and out of the facility, another slide above the lazy river, a FlowRider, The Dock play pool and Spray Ground for the younger set, and even rock climbing. Open 4-8 pm on Monday, Thursday, and Friday; 10 am-6 pm on Saturday; and 12-6 pm on Sunday. $11-$18 for day passes.

    City waterparks
    In addition to the standard swimming pools at city recreation centers, many cities in area have smaller waterpark options that include slides, lazy rivers, splash areas, and more. Among the options are Bahama Beach in Dallas, Jack Carter Pool in Plano, Frisco Water Park, West Irving Aquatic Center, and Rowlett Wet Zone.

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