As I was doing my typical flip through Netflix I stumbled across a movie called Set it Up. I was nervous at first because it sounds like a Bring it on Step it Up teeny bopper movie. However, one of the first actors listed was Taye Diggs. I love me some Diggs. The Wood, “Back in the days when I was young I’m not a kid anymore but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again. ” On top of that he’s the man that got Stella’s groove back. Add in the fact a Charlie’s Angel is in it in in Lucy Liu and I was in… I read the synopsis and decided to take a shot.
The basic premise of the movie is the assistants of Taye Diggs and Lucy Lui try to set them up to date so that everyones lives can be easier. It obviously turns into a romantic comedy with lessons learned. First off I didn’t know the name Emily Bitch until I saw her. I LOVED her in Why Him and Dirty Grandpa and I LOVE her in this. She has this effortless beauty. Plus she had this look that just takes you off at the knees. She has this natural beauty and even this cool thing where one of her eye brows is slightly different. She’s super cute. Which plays great in this movie because the male lead in the movie is relatively unknown.
His name is Glen Powell. By the end of the movie you end up liking him but he starts as a dick. I think the beginning was a little typical and him being as big of a jerk didn’t play as well to me. Pete Davidson plays his gay roommate so I don’t see how he’d be such a jerk in the beginning. Besides that unrealistic personality issue, he does a pretty good job. He has a couple good jokes and maintains his integrity through them. He doesn’t really play the romantic role great but it works for this type of movie. He holds his own with these 3.
Taye Diggs and Lucy Lui end up playing similar parts. Asshole bosses who work all the time. Though as the movie progresses Lucy Lui is shown to have a soul while Taye Diggs stays the villain. There’s a couple parts they have to act a little but overall they’re secondary characters with little development. Same as Davidson the roommate. Which is extremely odd because he’s on the cover. I guess they’re doing this because he just got engaged to Ariana Grande because he has no business being on the cover with his role in this movie. I digress…
Overall I liked this movie. As far as romantic comedies goes I think it hits it’s mark. It could of been a little funnier and a little more realistic in the beginning. I didn’t buy some of the cliches…one specifically, asshole guy dates some fashion airhead and becomes a great person by dumping her. I think they could of went more realistic with a little bit more drama. Then counter that with some funnier scenes. Maybe the night they get drunk or show more of Taye’s and Lucy’s interaction. Anyway, I would reccomend this movie but not a must see. If you stumble on it check it out. Or the corny joke. Set it up.
Hot Hand Rating: 6.2
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