Review: Relationship Goals

7 February, 2026 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 2 categories

Title: Relationship Goals
MPA Rating: PG-13
Director: Linda Mendoza
Starring: Kelly Rowland, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Robin Thede
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

What It Is: Leah (Rowland) is a career-driven woman, one with a very specific list of traits she refuses to compromise on when it comes to a mate. She’s about to get promoted to showrunner at the morning show she’s worked at for the last 15 years. That is, until network executives decide to poach Jarrett Roy (Smith) from a rival in order to compete with Leah and maybe show that she can be a team player. Just one problem: the two have a romantic history together, one that didn’t end well.

What We Think: You know this should be right up my alley. I won’t lie, there’s a lot to like. Rowland and Smith have pretty good chemistry. There are wonderfully placed romantic moments. It’s a swift watch at only 93 minutes. Heck, I even think Linda Mendoza does a pretty terrific job directing this. Things move and feel alive, and the camera is doing the simplest things to put us at ease.

Here are the problems. It’s predictable. It’s religiously heavy handed, to the detriment of the film. I didn’t find the performances and writing clever enough. Some scenes were even saved by a perfect needle drop (looking at you, Ciara). There are too many bad subplots that are, again, handled well enough by Mendoza. It felt like I was being sold on the book the film is named after, and that. Well that didn’t sit well with me.

Our Grade: D+, Average as average gets, but thankfully this thing flies and never ruins its reputation with the audience by keeping them there too long.

I have to say this, and I want it to be clear, it is weird seeing Method Man in this role. Knowing this is the same man who wrote songs like “Bring the Pain,” “Da Rockwilder,” and “What the Blood Clot,” it’s crazy to see him in this. Rowland becoming what her former girl group spoke about, an independent woman, is indeed what Leah is.

Overall, it’s an easy watch, one that won’t take a lot of mental RAM to get through. You know where it’s going. You just have to be willing to take the ride.