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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — “Relationship Goals”, now streaming on Amazon Prime, is a romantic comedy inspired by Michael Todd’s 2020 bestselling book of the same name and features strong performances as a visual extension of the book.
Starring Kelly Rowland and Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the film adaptation attempts to mix love, faith and career ambition. The film follows Leah Caldwell (Rowland), a driven television producer on the verge of becoming the first woman to run New York’s top morning show. Focused on her career, Leah has little interest in romance. However, when her ex-boyfriend, Jarrett Roy (Smith), pops back up, her focus is split because now she has competition and feelings start to arise later on in the movie. Especially when it is proven that Jarrett actually changed after reading the book “Relationship Goals”.
Rowland delivers a confident performance that reflects the pressure that she’s facing when battling with her ex to get a promotion. Smith brings charm and familiarity that make his character engaging. The supporting cast, especially the friend group, added humor and warmth, which helped the film maintain a light comedic tone.
Despite these performing strengths, the film struggles with storytelling depth. Many scenes feel directly pulled from Todd’s bestselling book rather than developed through character action. Instead of allowing viewers to discover meaning on their own, the movie frequently explains its lessons. As a result, the story becomes predictable and at times feels more instructional than emotional.
Marketing also plays a role in how the film is received. Promotion for the adaptation did not clearly highlight how closely the movie would follow Todd’s book. While the title reflects the name of the book, advertising leaned more on the romantic storyline and the two leading stars of the movie, Rowland and Smith. So, this has led some viewers to expect a traditional romantic comedy rather than a narrative structured around Michael Todd’s book.
One scene that sparked discussion features Method Man appearing in his underwear. While not shocking, the moment feels unnecessary given the producer’s Christian background. Montgomery native La’Selle Brown shared a thoughtful response to the scene after recently watching the new Amazon Prime release. “As far as the scene with Method Man in his underwear, first of all, we are all grown, so I wasn’t super bothered,” Brown said. “However, being that the film has a Christian producer, it was surprising and head-scratching because that particular scene didn’t seem needed.” Brown added that the moment felt out of place given the film’s message.” If this were a secular producer, I would expect that,” Brown said. “But because the producer is a Christian, that scene felt inconducive to the moral message they wanted to deliver.”
The scene is especially notable considering Method Man’s real-life views on being labeled a sex symbol. In a 2023 Men’s Health article by William E. Ketchum III, Method Man openly rejected the sex symbol label, explaining that it does not reflect who he is or what he wants to represent. He has spoken about how the focus on his appearance often overshadows his work, personal growth and his struggles with mental health in the past. Because of this, moments in the film that emphasize his physical appearance create a disconnect from his stated values and the movie’s intended message.
Audience reactions on social media reflect the divide in how the film has been received. TikTok user Screened Scored criticized the movie for leaning too heavily on its source material. “Relationship Goals isn’t good,” the reviewer said. “Once you realize it’s built around Michael Todd’s book, the whole movie starts to feel different.” The reviewer described the film as feeling more like branding than storytelling, calling it a motivational message stretched into a romantic comedy.
In contrast, TikTok user The Weekend Watch praised the film’s emotional impact and cast chemistry. “When I say rom-com, this is what I mean,” the reviewer said. “I was laughing, crying and cheering from ear to ear.” Weekend Watch credited the entire cast, particularly the friend group, for making the story feel relatable and emotionally engaging.
Ultimately, “Relationship Goals” is worth watching if you’re curious and want to see how the book is translated to the screen. For viewers familiar with and open to Michael Todd’s teachings, the film may feel affirming and enjoyable. For others, the close connection to the book makes it difficult to view the movie as a standalone story. While polished and sincere, the film misses opportunities to deliver its message through deeper storytelling. As Brown summed it up, “All in all, I’d give it a 6 out of 10. It wasn’t a bad movie. It was just a decent movie.”
