Kelly Rowland and Method Man bring hope and faith to Black love stories
In October 2018, Atlanta-born singer Kelly Rowland reconnected with her biological father after she avoided seeing him for 33 years.
The founding member of R&B vocal group Destiny’s Child lost her mom weeks after the birth of her first son four years earlier, and she felt her father should know his grandson.
While taping an episode of “American Soul,” the BET musical drama that told the story of variety show “Soul Train,” Rowland called and asked him to finally meet her. She was nervous about the potential outcome.
Rowland sat still, relied on her staff to keep her calm, and listened quietly as her father spoke about their lost time. She allowed faith, hope, trust and unconditional love to give her confidence in repairing their relationship.
“We rekindled, and it’s been one of the most beautiful moments in my life,” Rowland told UATL.
Rowland’s life imitates art.
She’s the lead in “Relationship Goals,” a romantic comedy co-starring Clifford “Method Man” Smith streaming on Prime Video starting Wednesday. It tells the story of Leah, a workaholic morning news producer, and Jarrett, a suave, Ivy League-educated prime time news producer, competing for showrunner of a morning program.
In the film, Leah and Jarrett briefly dated until he cheated on her.
Jarrett strives to prove to Leah, a daddy’s girl grieving the loss of her mother, that a book inspired him to become a changed man after their failed relationship. Leah and her girlfriends use the book as a road map to address and confront their professional, personal and romantic challenges.
The movie, filmed in Toronto, is based on Pastor Michael Todd’s 2020 self-help book “Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage and Sex,” inspired by online sermons delivered at his Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He spent six years developing it into a script.
Rowland, who is also executive producer, said executive DeVon Franklin mentored her in the film’s production.
“I asked a lot of questions and didn’t just want my name next to a credit. I care about the lighting, different shots, what our wardrobe and everything is looking like,” she said.
“I’m grateful to DeVon for trusting me with the title and having conversations with me every step of the way, because I didn’t take it lightly.”
Between takes, Rowland and Smith discussed relationships, parenthood and their careers in entertainment. Smith said their on-screen chemistry is the result of the vocalist’s modesty, attentiveness and work ethic.
“We started to talk about our personal lives, and you want to share those intimate moments so it’s genuine and authentic when you’re on-screen together,” Smith said.
“She set the tone for what the day was going to be, always came with positive affirmations, ready to work and with a smile on her face every day. I felt comfortable having conversations like that with Kels off top.”
Smith’s character allows him to portray a romantic lead. In 1995, the founding member of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan earned a Grammy Award as a solo artist for “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need to Get By,” a rap song about his soulmate featuring singer Mary J. Blige.
He said his role in “Relationship Goals” is an extension of the romantic and vulnerable persona he sometimes expresses in song lyrics.
“You have to know what kind of space you’re navigating in, which is female-dominated, and approach it cautiously. You can’t come in with alpha male energy, so I speak that talk to a woman where it touches her. I’ve always found it relatively easy to write those kinds of records,” he said.
Rowland, who’s known for “Dilemma” featuring Nelly and “Motivation,” listened to curated song lists on set that aligned with her character’s development and story arc.
“I had a playlist for her harder side at the beginning and when she had to soften up,” she said.
“Relationship Goals” arrives before Valentine’s Day. The film is released at a time when relationship podcasts and content creators debate regularly over gender roles and expectations in romantic partnerships.
Rowland said she hopes viewers walk away from the film believing in intimacy and seeking alternative media over online battles between the sexes.
“It’s a rom-com with a beautiful, faith component without forcefully feeding it,” she said.
“It’s Black love being shown with characters that are human, honest and authentic, and we need that storytelling right now that all races can see and receive in the most beautiful way.”
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.