Midway through “Set It Up,” Netflix’s latest film, Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch take a beautifully lit stroll down the High Line in New York City. Both are personal assistants scheming to make their bosses fall in love. Deutch’s Harper remarks multiple times how they are “pulling a Cyrano.” After confessing to not knowing “what a Cyrano is,” Powell’s Charlie fires back that what they are doing is closer to “the Lindsay Lohan classic ‘The Parent Trap’.” This cute banter encapsulates what makes the film so effective. Everyone involved, both in front and behind the camera, earnestly wants to make a crowd-pleasing romcom. They love the formula. They swoon over meet-cutes. In short, they want to make comfort food. “Set It Up” achieves that and more with flying colors.
Harper aspires to be a sports journalist because she wants to tell sports stories that will make people cry. However, she hasn’t had time to write anything because she’s been slaving away for her tough as nails editor, Kirsten (Lucy Liu). Elsewhere in the same building, Charlie has been attending to the needs of his boss, Rick (Taye Diggs), for three years, hoping for a promotion. One late night, the two find each other bartering for late night dinner. Tired of long, thankless nights, both think that getting their bosses laid will create a better work environment for all. Since they have control of their calendars and know every like and dislike they have, the two scheme to make their bosses fall in love with each other.
If you think you know where this is going, you probably do. Charlie starts out seeing a vapid model, Suze (Joan Smalls), who he knows he can’t really carry on a conversation with. Harper uses her new free time to start seeing a man she met on Tinder. However, it’s clear that Charlie and Harper belong together. Of course. Do the both of them have sassy best friends who routinely comment on their love lives? Oh yeah. For Charlie, it’s his roommate Duncan (Pete Davidson), a gay lothario who still knows how to bro-out. Harper’s roomie, Becca (Meredith Hangar), is a former party girl who finds herself engaged to her charmingly square boyfriend (Jon Rudnitsky of “Home Again” fame).
Though their pairing feels inevitable, the ride is quite a bit of fun thanks to Powell and Deutch’s effortless chemistry. The two ping pong off of each other with a tangible energy that makes me want to see more romcoms starring them. It’s fortuitous that both of them starred together (but never in the same scene) in “Everybody Wants Some!!” by Richard Linklater. They both still have that effortless charm where they are able to sell long conversations and banters.
It helps that their characters are actually quite winning. There’s practically a whole subgenre of “horrible boss” type movies. However, “Set It Up” actually looks at why smart, educated people work tirelessly as assistants in order to get ahead. Both characters also have unique perspectives on their jobs. Harper respects her boss and knows she wants to be in that position one day. She just doesn’t feel that her day to day is giving her the skills she needs to get there. While she is a 23 year old upstart, Charlie is a 28 year old upset by the fact he’s still an assistant. He puts up with a lot in finance, a field he dislikes, because he was promised a big paycheck that he hasn’t yet seen. Their frustrations are relatable and interesting, which keeps the movie going.
If the movie offers a more interesting look at the work of assistants, it also does the same to their “horrible bosses.” Between this and the dearly departed “Difficult People,” Lucy Liu excels at playing intimidating corporate figureheads. She’s demanding without ever coming off as a caricature or rude. One sees the level of work she puts into her sports site and respects the fact she demands similar levels from her team. As the movie goes on, she becomes the real MVP. Kirsten is a tough journalist, but she’s also not afraid of her own emotions. This becomes key when compared to Tase Diggs’ Rick, who easily fits the financial asshole role. Still, one roots for their pairing as much as their assistants do. They have a playful chemistry that moves fast.
Is “Set It Up” destined for awards and a lasting legacy? Not necessarily. However, it’s the best version of what a Netflix movie should be. It’s short, sweet and easy to follow. It goes down like a fine dessert. Overall, “Set It Up” is the most delightful way one could spend a lazy afternoon or cozy date night in.
“Set It Up” is currently available on Netflix.
