‘Relationship Goals’ Film Review (2026): Linda Mendoza’s directorial “Relationship Goals“, currently available on Amazon Prime Video, pretends to be a Valentine’s Day romantic comedy but has other plans. Featuring Kelly Rowland and Cliff “Method Man” Smith, the film uses the tropes of a contemporary romantic comedy but is actually a marketing tool for a bestselling relationship guidebook of the same name. While the film has good actors and a familiar premise, it finds it difficult to exist as a film.
‘Relationship Goals’ Film Overview and Rating
Baapofmovies.com Rating: 2.5/5
- Release Date: February 4, 2026
- Premiere on: Prime Video
- Director: Linda Mendoza
- Cast: Kelly Rowland, Method Man, Robin Thede, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Matt Walsh, and others
- Runtime: 93 Minutes (1 hr 33 min)
Relationship Goals Story and Narrative Structure
The plot centers on Leah (Kelly Rowland), a television producer who is on the verge of a promotion when the network decides to hire Jarrett (Method Man), her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her years ago, as her competition. The two are compelled to work together on a Valentine’s Day episode based on the book “Relationship Goals,” which Jarrett says has changed his life.
Although the premise is ripe with romantic and professional conflict, the story never really gets invested in the conflict. The plot twists are brought up and then discarded, leading to a movie that goes through the motions of a romantic comedy but never gets into the groove of the genre.
Performances and Characters
Kelly Rowland gives a strong and lovable performance as Leah, who is ambitious, funny, and emotionally closed-off. Method Man is as charismatic as Jarrett, but his character is constrained by the script from exploring anything more than superficial redemption.
The secondary characters are there to support the themes of the book. The characters have conveniently easy romantic dilemmas that are all solved by the lessons learnt from Relationship Goals.
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What Works in Relationship Goals
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- Strong Lead Performers: Relationship goals’ success is majorly dependent on Rowland and Smith, who didn’t disappoint as they appeared natural in each and every sequence.
- Polished Production: The film is very well designed, and it looks very clean, well-lit, and professionally assembled.
- Relatable Premise: You can sense the workplace competition and unresolved past relationships that are inherently engaging concepts.
These strengths, however, remain underutilized due to the film’s lack of narrative commitment.
Where Relationship Goals Often Fall Short
The film’s biggest flaw is its lack of authenticity. The film doesn’t really allow the film to breathe, as it doesn’t allow characters to grow organically. The story is poorly executed, as it repeatedly bends to accommodate overt book promotion. Dialogue explicitly references purchasing the book and tries to break immersion and undermine emotional sincerity.
Comedic beats are scarce and underdeveloped. There are few potentially engaging scenarios such as forced proximity or travel mishaps, but they are never explored. This leaves the film oddly empty for a genre that is based solely on interaction.
Technical Aspects
From a technical standpoint, Relationship Goals is competent. However, it is uninspiring. Cinematography is functional. Editing doesn’t add anything new, as it looks to play safe, and the musical score is forgettable. There is little stylistic ambition that reinforces the sense that the film exists to sell an idea and not to express it.
Final Verdict
Overall, Relationship Goals is not offensively bad, but it is deeply unconvincing. It is a romantic comedy that doesn’t really understand why the genre works. The cast did its best, but it felt like the film prioritized product placement over storytelling, and this resulted in an experience that feels hollow, unromantic, and ultimately unnecessary.
If you are one of those viewers who is looking for genuine romance or humour, this film is unlikely to deliver. For Amazon, however, it serves its purpose, but overall it is a disappointment.
Watch Relationship Goals Trailer
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