At first glance, Relationship Goals appears to be a quintessential romantic comedy, perfectly crafted for audiences of a specific age group. The ever-glamorous Kelly Rowland stars as Leah, a driven morning television producer who is poised to take over her retiring boss’s position, portrayed by the ubiquitous Matt Walsh. Just as Leah stands on the brink of breaking through that proverbial glass ceiling, network executives throw her into a bake-off-style competition with Jarrett, a charming figure from her past played by Method Man. The enticing idea of a member of Destiny’s Child engaging in romantic tension with a member of the Wu-Tang Clan is likely too appealing for many fans of their music to resist clicking on the Prime Video thumbnail, drawn in by a wave of nostalgia.
This magnetic allure is amplified by director Linda Mendoza’s brisk pacing; the film's 90 minutes fly by effortlessly. The three-writer team behind Relationship Goals, led by Michael Elliott—known for works like Queen Latifah’s Just Wright and Beyoncé’s Carmen—efficiently sets up the story. Leah’s friends, including Treese, an unfortunate singleton makeup artist played by Annie Gonzalez, Brenda, a wistful morning news anchor (Robin Thede), and Roland, the all-knowing assistant (Ryan Jamaal Swain), cleverly provide backstory through rapid-fire dialogue and humorous quips that engage the audience. (One memorable moment features Brenda declaring her emergency engagement strategy, naming it 'Project Put a Ring on It.') The only moment where the pace slows down is when Dennis Haysbert appears as Leah’s grieving father, but even that doesn’t detract significantly from the film’s momentum.
Despite its genre conventions and millennial charm, viewers might overlook the film's somewhat dubious portrayal of how television news operates. After all, the notion that two New York City producers are given just three weeks to prepare a Valentine’s Day feature feels quite unrealistic. However, the vibrant soundtrack, which traverses genres from Victoria Monét to The Doobie Brothers and culminates in a duet between the leads titled "Complicated," helps distract from some of the more glaring plot points. It's only after watching the trailer and committing to the film that you realize this PG-13 romantic comedy is actually designed as a faith-based narrative aimed at women who may find themselves alone on Valentine’s Day.
The true standout of the film is Michael Todd, a rising figure in the realm of prosperity gospel preachers who also markets sneakers (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/29/pastor-michael-todd-spit-preacher-influencer). The film borrows its title from his bestselling book that, among other themes, promotes intentional dating while disparaging women who do not follow his advice by calling them "chicken nuggets."
This storyline is not entirely new; fourteen years ago, Steve Harvey transformed his relationship advice into the successful franchise Think Like a Man, receiving backlash for perpetuating outdated misogynistic ideas—something Leah might describe as "the toxic butt of patriarchy." TD Jakes, a megachurch leader endorsed by celebrities such as Oprah and Diddy (https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/oprah-winfrey-bishop-td-jakes-diddy-parties-b2775598.html), has also been known to weave his bestselling rhetoric into films that advocate for feminine subservience. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see one of Jakes’s screenwriters, Cory Tynan, contributing to this project.
Todd is intricately woven into the fabric of Relationship Goals: the characters regard him as a guru. Leah and Jarrett highlight Todd and his wife, Natalie, as the focus of their Valentine’s Day feature, which is revisited twice throughout the film. Their journey leads them to Todd’s megachurch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a Sunday service—not merely to set Method Man up for an off-key rendition of Keyshia Cole’s "Love" during a road trip scene or for Rowland to metaphorically cleanse herself of her cinematic sins in Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa (https://www.leisurebyte.com/mea-culpa-review-kelly-rowland/). When stripped of its nostalgic appeal and romantic tensions, Relationship Goals ultimately resembles a prolonged infomercial for Todd’s ministry, produced by DeVon Franklin, another savvy preacher who has established his pulpit in Hollywood long ago.
Earlier this month, comedian Druski created a viral sketch (https://www.tiktok.com/@druski/video/7594632859407715639) featuring a sneaker preacher who descends onto the pulpit surrounded by smoke, adorned in vibrant colors and flashy jewelry, with the intent to "impregnate everyone with the word of God." This satire, which garnered a staggering 43 million views in a single day, sparked heated discussions about the extravagant theatrics of megachurches overshadowing spiritual focus, likely inspired by Todd—who gained notoriety for performing a controversial act of wiping his own saliva on a worshipper’s eyes to demonstrate a biblical healing parable. (Interestingly, Todd acknowledged that he found Druski’s satire amusing.)
Relationship Goals continues to echo a limited perspective on marriage that suggests it is the sole path to a woman’s ultimate happiness and fulfillment in life. If viewers can overlook this message and instead focus on the familiar faces and comedic moments, the journey to the film's conclusion can indeed feel delightful.
