Hope Bonarcher takes a closer look at Relationship Goals, the star-studded romantic comedy produced by Michael Todd, DeVon Franklin and Kelly Rowland. While the film delivers nostalgia, chemistry and laugh-out-loud moments, Hope questions whether its relationship advice lines up with the Christian values it claims to promote.
If you’re anything like me, you may have had no idea there was a fun new romantic comedy quietly waiting in your Amazon Prime queue. Fans of star-crossed lovers, nostalgic nods to the 80s and 90s, weary modern-day singles navigating the dating scene, and lovers of classic Hallmark-style movies will likely find plenty to enjoy here. Produced by major names in both Christianity and entertainment — including DeVon Franklin, Pastor Michael Todd and Kelly Rowland, who also stars opposite Cliff “Method Man” Smith — the film is clearly aimed at Gen X and Millennial audiences.
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You may already know Michael Todd’s Relationship Goals, the bestselling book that became a pop culture phenomenon. However, the phrase itself first gained traction on social media, prompting the Oklahoma-based Transformation Church pastor to launch a sermon series on the topic in 2017. The series went viral and eventually led to the 2020 book release. Todd also appears throughout the film, much as he does in real life: surrounded by studio lights, cameras and the smoke-filled stage aesthetics of megachurch culture. In one scene he explains: “I wanted to take a trendy hashtag that pop culture has basically defined and point it to something bigger than ourselves — our faith — the thing that all of us need to actually see and reach our relationship goals.”
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Any romantic comedy hoping to stand out in today’s oversaturated market needs compelling characters viewers genuinely care about — and this film succeeds there.
Any romantic comedy hoping to stand out in today’s oversaturated market needs compelling characters viewers genuinely care about — and this film succeeds there. Surprisingly, Kelly Rowland and Method Man make an incredibly entertaining on-screen pairing. Rowland is beautiful, driven, funny and vulnerable, while Smith brings charm, wit and comedic timing. Even though audiences know where the story is heading, the chemistry between them makes the journey enjoyable.
The film also wears its rom-com inspirations proudly. Rowland’s sharp, masculine-inspired workwear evokes classics like Working Girl and Baby Boom, while the “coworkers who love to hate each other” dynamic recalls beloved 90s films like He Said, She Said and The Cutting Edge.
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But when it comes to the film’s Christian messaging — particularly themes around abstinence, sacrificial love and mutual respect — things become more complicated.
There are genuinely funny moments throughout: a gangster rapper belting out Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” during carpool karaoke, and a trio of women dancing wildly in an empty nightclub to Ciara’s “Goodies.” But when it comes to the film’s Christian messaging — particularly themes around abstinence, sacrificial love and mutual respect — things become more complicated.
The movie often gives the impression of saying one thing while showing another. Spoiler alert: the main characters sleep together before even properly reconciling romantically. Meanwhile, one supporting character, played with delightful exaggeration by Annie Gonzalez, pivots from seeking biblical wisdom about relationships to making vision boards and joking about voodoo dolls as revenge tools. The tonal inconsistency makes the film’s faith-based messaging feel muddled at best.
Perhaps the biggest issue is the film’s heavy reliance on the “love-hate” relationship trope. On screen, conflict and chemistry create entertaining tension, and opposites do often attract in real life. But sparks can start fires — and not always healthy ones. As Todd himself says in the film, strong relationships should be rooted in faith and submission to Christ, producing the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Yet the combative dynamic between Leah and Jarrett — while undeniably entertaining — hardly models those values. In the end, the film undermines much of its own message. That doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable; it absolutely is. Just perhaps don’t take relationship advice from it.
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