Set It Up
by Katie Silberman
Treehouse Pictures
We’re so happy to have this guest squee of Set It Up, a new romantic comedy on Netflix!
This squee is from Darbi Bradley and you can find her on Twitter (@darbibradley). Darbi is a romance reader from Toronto, Canada currently living in Washington, DC. She hasn’t thought about moving home since November 2016. Not once…
…
I am supposed to be studying for my Business Law final (I like to stay very #onbrand as a member of Romancelandia), but I just HAD to tell everyone about this movie!
The 2010s are such a wasteland for romcoms. Even movies that TOTALLY ARE ROMCOMS dress up in serious suits (Silver Linings Playbook is a romcom, @ me).
When the trailer for this movie came out, a friend and I made a movie date to see it weeks in advance.
Seriously, the trailer is so charming:
Here’s the thing, THE MOVIE IS BETTER THAN THE EXCELLENT TRAILER!
In case you didn’t watch the trailer, our main characters are Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell), who are assistants to Kirsten (Lucy Liu) and Rick (Taye Diggs) respectively. Kirsten is a sports reporter who has her own site, sort of a lady version of Grantland-era Bill Simmons, and I am SO HERE FOR IT. Rick is some sort of Venture Capitalist – it doesn’t matter except that he’s rich and successful. Harper and Charlie meet while at the office late, and their bosses are making them miserable. They correctly surmise that their bosses make them miserable because they themselves are miserable. Harper and Charlie come up with a plan to Cyrano (Harper) / Parent Trap (Charlie) Kirsten and Rick, so that all parties involved can have a break and live their lives a little bit. Hijinks ensue.
This movie is classic romcom: there’s a meet cute, both Harper and Charlie have BFFs they talk to, there’s a montage, and the heroine’s styling changes as she falls in love. What’s so sneakily joyful about the movie, though, is that it is genre savvy, and it give the viewers what they want while turning conventions on their head. For example, there’s a big damn rush to the airport – but as Charlie is leaving, he checks his watch and realizes that he’s actually got 4 hours. So he gets a burrito to kill time.
Another thing that made me happy about this movie is that even within the heightened environment of a romcom, it still felt real. The characters live in shitty tiny New York City apartments. They both have roommates, and like zero space. They have job anxiety about being assistants and moving forward in their careers. Charlie is dying for a promotion, and is scared that if he doesn’t get one, he’ll have to start all over again – at the ripe old age of 28. Which is idiotic, but VERY true to life.
All of the side characters are a treat as well. Pete Davidson plays Duncan, Charlie’s gay best friend and roommate who gives him the real talk. Duncan is basically Max, Adam Pally’s character on Happy Endings (RIP), but you can tell he has a lot of fun with it. Meredith Hagner plays Becca, Harper’s best friend and roommate. Becca and Harper have real chemistry: it really feels like two girls who have been through it together with a lot of love. But the real shining stars here, no surprise, are Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs.
After watching this movie, I am full-on praying for a Lucy Liunaissance. She needs to be in all the movies. If you watched Ally McBeal back in the day, you’ll recognize some of Ling in Kirsten. But Kirsten is less cartoony and with far more warmth and depth. She realizes she’s being a see-you-next-Tuesday to Harper, and even acknowledges it in a memorable scene. But there’s a reason behind her behavior and a method behind her habits. Harper clearly admires and adores Kirsten (while also being terrified), and you can see why.
Taye Diggs has fewer beats to play, besides smarmy asshole. And to the movie’s credit he never really gets a redemption arc. But no surprise, Taye Diggs is so goddamned charming that he made me laugh repeatedly. He also brings a physicality to the role that is just absolutely hilarious. I LOVED seeing his tantrums, and his dancing.
I really hope members of the bitchery give this movie a try! It is so sunny and funny, I had an absolute blast watching it. If you need even more reason to see it – IT FULLY PASSES THE BECHDEL TEST!
Also if you’re in the DC Area come join the Politics and Prose Romance Novel Book Club so we can talk about Set It Up in person!
Be sure to check out Redheadedgirl’s review of Set It Up!
This film was amazing. Watched it with my man and we laughed constantly. The characters were amazing, it passed the Bechdel test and it made us happy. I was expecting it to be good and then it was surprisingly great.
I watched this movie the other night during an “Introvert Recovery Session” after Father’s Day w/my in-laws.
It completely brought me life. I think Zoey Deutsch is going to be a very, very big star. She’s completely adorable in the same way her Mom is. I loved that the movie turned so many conventions slightly on their sides or head to make it more relatable. It’s how I wish most Hallmark movies would be.
OMG Set It Up was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I hope this means more romcoms in the future!! It was exactly what I needed. 🙂
It was so charming–and just tongue-in-cheek enough to cut the sweetness. Whoever did the casting gets all the thumbs up, because it was so nice to see leads with actual chemistry. And I really enjoyed how careful they were to calibrate Harper and Charlie’s lives with actual twenty-something existence–the apartments, the roommates, the fact that where they both are by the ending feels optimistic but appropriate to their stage of life…
If Netflix can produce NINE seasons of Marvel superhero shows (many of which I like, for the record), surely we can have a few more fun romcoms like this, right?
I watched this twice in a week, once on my own on a rainy afternoon and once with my mum (and wine). I thought it might be a bit too modern for her (and I did have to explain iMessaging, Tinder profiles and who both Pete Davidson and Tituss Burgess are) but she loved it too! We are both longtime romcom fans and I can only hope Netflix continues to fill the romcom void of this decade so far.
@Janine I loved the twenty-something accuracy as well. Harper’s relationship with her roommates in particular is spot on. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more kinship with a character than I did near the beginning when her roommates arrive home.
I enjoyed it last night, especially the not so stereotypical bits like no redemption for Rick (I guess chasing his ex is it?), the cheating, the airport, etc. Also, the shoving of Rick when he shows up at the door. “Good to see ya, Rick!”
I want to watch this. Like now.
I love that Netflix is getting into the Rom-Com game. Usually I get my fix from Hallmark, making due with a lily-white cast, terrible acting, and bland storylines. From what I understand, there are a couple more coming up through the summer that I’m already excited for.
I loved this movie and I agree, the trailer was great for selling it. I was literally counting down the days until the premiere. (mild spoilers)
I loved the twist on the “stop the wedding.” I loved that the movie ended on an optimistic note, but not over the top declaring their undying love.
(end spoilers)
As a bonus, it was directed by a woman, so I could check it off on my #52filmsbywomen challenge 😉 Good romcoms can still be made and still find an audience. I think Hollywood writes them off b/c you do have to make an effort to keep it fresh and keep the emotions real. You can’t just add more special effects or explosions to sell it.
I’m rooting for a Lucy Liu renaissance too. She is great in Elementary, but it was so much fun to see her in something lighter.
Friends, I have watched this movie THREE times already. Each time, I find something new to love. Last time it was Taylor Diggs’s dancing while drunk. The way he jumps onto the laptop will always make me laugh. Even the smaller roles are hysterical but have such a warmth — the clerk at the jewelry store is an example. I like to imagine the minor characters in movies as main characterd in their own off-screen movies, and I loved imagining that jewelry store clerk telling her friends about this amazing thing that happened at work.
Any other hidden gem Rom Coms currently on Netflix? Or Hulu or Prime? I know this one is new and I am so so so glad to hear it was good because A Christmas Prince just didn’t do it for me earlier this year. I have very limited movie watching time and just don’t like to get invested without a good payoff, so I find myself falling back on the standards.
Hi from T.O. Darbi! After our provincial election, you may want to stay down there LOL ;). Here’s how I’ve been coping https://www.prairiegirlbakery.com/. In all seriousness, this sounds like an adorable movie and now can’t wait to get home and see if it’s on Netflix Canada. Cupcakes and cute movie – perfect weekend comfort.
I am looking forward to watching this. Love the cast!
@Emily C: I really liked “Kissing Booth”. I thought Joey Hill was adorable in it.
@Emily C. Okay, this characters aren’t as adorable as the couple in “Set It Up” by I really liked “Sleeping With Other People” on Netflix. Imagine “When Harry Met Sally” but instead of neurotic yuppie New Yorkers, they’re self-destructive hipster New Yorkers. It’s probably more of an R rating in content and the characters are sometimes jerks, so it’s that’s a turn off, stay away!
I happen to have a soft spot for screwed up people finding love, especially when it’s not super angsty.
Also, “One Small Hitch” is cute in a fluffy way. It has fake engagement between friends, hello catnip. It reminded me a bit of “While You Were Sleeping.” It was less contemporary feeling than “Set It Up” but still more realistic than a Lifetime movie, if that makes sense.
I wish I had Netflix!
People who liked this might like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on Prime. It’s not a rom-com but it is damned funny, with some romance. Also fantastic production and costume design.
@Emily C, I agree with @Tameka that The Kissing Booth was really cute. I had some issues with it, though. First off, the movie is about teenagers (16-18) and they all get shitfaced at a party. I get teenagers are probably doing that, but I wasn’t crazy about seeing it in what is most likely a teen movie. It is like they’re validating the decision, even though they show the main character doing things she would never do when sober. I also did not like how controlling the best friend was–again, probably true to life in regards to teenage relationships, but I felt like his behavior was portrayed in a way that made him look like the victim. Last, the hero has some pretty bad anger issues that made me wonder what he would do to the heroine if she made him mad. It is, however, obvious that he loves her and for what it is worth, he tries to curb his anger issues and is supposedly in therapy.
Be warned: the soundtrack was all kinds of crazy–The Safety Dance is played at the party where they got drunk, Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes is in the background of one of the hero and heroine’s dates, and Right Here Right Now (the Jesus Jones song) was played at the prom (so was Don’t You Forget About Me, but I think that was a nod to Molly Ringwald, who played the hero’s mother).
I really liked the movie, but when I first saw the articles about it, I saw the picture of Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs thinking that was who the movie was centered on (until I read the article) and I still want that rom-com!
For anyone else looking for rom-coms on Netflix, I also second Sleeping with Other People and agree with the When Harry Met Sally comparison. Candy Jar on Netflix is super cute, YA type of romance although the romance is a slow burn. It focuses on a couple of super competitive debate team members. Their mothers, played by Christina Hendricks and Uzo Aduba, were also rivals in high school and Helen Hunt plays their counselor. The Big Sick on Amazon Prime is very good. Other rom-coms, or romances with comic touches, I’ve enjoyed to various degrees: Tumbledown, Hulu; Two Night Stand, Amazon Prime; What If, Amazon Prime; Our Souls at Night (more drama than comedy), Netflix, and Slow Learners, Hulu; Ghost Town, Amazon Prime; and Night Owls, Netflix.
Ok – where do I start?? So much fun! If Netflix would become the grown up version of Disney Channel teen movies from early 2000’s my viewing choices would be practically perfect. Motocrossed, Luck of the Irish, Stepsister from Planet Wierd (my daughter’s we’re about 8 – I’ve seen them all) for grownups!! I recently watched The Kissing Booth on netflix. Equally well done. It is the off limits sibling of BFF trope and I really enjoyed it- even with a high school setting.
I am a founding member of Passionflix. Driven will be out next month, I think. All of their movies based on books are great too – we’ll acted and directed.
In August, Outlander’s Jamie (Sam Heugan) will be in a comedy with Mika Kunis. The Spy Who dumped Me.
Things are looking up on the RomCom front- finally!
I really liked both this movie and Ibiza, which features great leads, strong female friendships plus Richard Madden and his sexy af accent (AND Michaela Watkins who is absolutely perfect and hilarious in everything she is in). Two good rom coms in a row – yay Netflix!
Not to put a bit of a damper on the squee, but I just watched the trailer and I’m curious if that elevator scene with delivery man involved some level of fat shaming?
I tried watching “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and was totally put-off by the fat-shaming in the first episode though I enjoyed everything before that (and not at all surprised since the it’s the same creator as Gilmore Girls).
I loved Set it Up. I was feeling blue and tried it on a whim when I was up past bedtime with my mind whirring away on negative thoughts. Finished with a big smile on my face. Absolutely lovely. I hope this portends a resurgence of the romantic comedy.
I watched this movie while trying to wind down from a long day and it seriously gave me so much life that the next day I drove over to my bff’s house and made her watch it with me again! We are in our mid-thirties, ladies (and gentleman?), I acted like a complete teenager after seeing this movie. I loved it hard!
@bgs I don’t really feel like there was fat shaming in the elevator scene, it was more, naked in a “public place” shaming. Also, there is much more than him just removing his clothes… it’s much, much worse…
@kati I had no idea she was Lea Thompson’s daughter!
Thanks so much for sharing that @VG and happy to hear it! Definitely going to check it out – huge fan of Lucy Liu 😀
I just saw this last night and cringed my way through the elevator scene. It was the fly in the happy fluffy cotton candy of this movie. Yes, it was “oh god this stranger is getting naked next to me and WHAT IS HE DOING NOW” but I feel like his size and body shape was really played up as an intensifier of the moment. Especially since Taye is very built and Lucy is very slender (and I am personally neither of those things) watching their horrified reactions felt doubly icky. Considering how many other -isms it managed to avoid, I was really disappointed they chose to include that as a “funny” moment.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved this movie. It’s just that when I rewatch, I’m just gonna go to the kitchen for more beverage-of-choice when that scene comes up.