Set It Up Review (2018) – A Charming, Witty, and Delightfully Scheming Rom-Com!

Wrapping up the month of love with another fantastic movie, Set It Up (2018)! This film delivers everything a rom-com should! Sharp humor, crackling chemistry, workplace chaos, and some truly ridiculous yet entertaining matchmaking schemes. This Netflix original breathes new life into the rom-com genre, proving that even in the modern era of swiping left and right, nothing beats the magic of a slow-burn romance filled with banter, absurdity, and heart.

Before we potatoes get started, we want to give a gentle reminder that while this film is primarily a lighthearted, feel-good rom-com, it does touch on themes of toxic work environments, unrealistic workplace expectations, misogyny, and the struggle of balancing ambition with personal happiness. These themes are handled with humor and heart, but they’re still worth keeping in mind.

Let’s dive into the scheming!

The film kicks off in the bustling heart of New York City, with a hysterical, yet painful montage of a variety of people, working as executive assistants, having to do absolutely unhinged things for their bosses. It is cringe, relatable, and hilarious! From here we are introduced to our two overworked, overstressed, and massively underpaid main characters who are also, you guessed it, working as executive assistants! Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell)!

Harper is an aspiring sports journalist stuck working as an assistant for Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu), a powerful and highly respected editor of an online sports publication. Harper highly respects and idolizes her boss but is drowning in an endless sea of emails, coffee runs, incredibly late nights, and last-minute unreasonable demands that make it impossible for her to have a life outside of work.

Charlie, on the other hand, is the long-suffering assistant to Rick Otis (Taye Diggs), a ruthless venture capitalist whose unpredictability and constant need for validation make every day a nightmare. Unlike Harper, Charlie isn’t particularly passionate about his job. He’s only putting up with Rick’s nonsense because he hopes it will get him a promotion, status, and a lot of money.

Fate brings Harper and Charlie together one late night in their building when both of them are desperately trying to secure dinner for their bosses, who are still working long after everyone else has gone home. Harper orders food for Kirsten, but finds that she does not have cash to pay for it when it arrives! Charlie is frantic, he did not place an order for dinner fast enough and the restaurants are now all closed!

Rick will not accept this, and Charlie knows it. Charlie is on his way to try to find some alternative but bumps into Harper in the lobby begging for the food that she ordered. She does not have the cash to pay for it, but…Charlie does! “I have cash! I have so much cash!” Charlie happily steals the food from Harper! He pays for it, and tries to walk away with it. “Wait! Wait! Sir. There are two dinners. One for me and one for her, so we could split it!” Harper begs him to at least split the dinners so that they can both have food to take to their bosses.

Charlie reluctantly agrees, but they are both frustrated with each other. “You know that pickle? That aforementioned pickle? That wasn’t for my boss. That was for me!” “You’re a monster!” The banter is truly hilarious, and delivered with such skill! We love this scene!

They both eventually make it home for the night, but it is abundantly clear that their boss’s lack of a social life outside of work is a large part of why they are expected not to have one as well. We potatoes are not big fans of the outdated concept of living to work…we prefer to work to live. Work/life balance is key.

We meet their friends, and roommates who are all delightful and funny people. All of the supporting acting in this film is extremely well-done! Next we see a short montage of their days since meeting to give us a deeper understanding of all of the characters. On yet another incredibly late night, Harper remembers that she still needs to pay Charlie back for the dinner.

She goes to the floor of the building where he works, and surprisingly finds him still at work too! Harper pays him back, and they get to chatting about their bosses, life, etc. They get along incredibly well, the banter is funny, charming, and incredibly cute. While they are getting to know each other…that’s when a truly chaotic and brilliant idea is born!

Since their bosses are both single, miserable, and constantly working, Harper proposes the idea to Parent Trap/Cyrano them into a relationship. The logic? If their bosses are busy falling in love, they’ll be less focused on work, and that means more free time for everyone…including their long suffering assistants. Honestly? It’s a hilarious and unhinged plan, but we potatoes have to admit—it’s kind of genius?

The execution of this scheme is where Set It Up truly shines! At first Charlie is resistant to the idea because he does not believe that they have the bandwidth, or that it would work…but with time, and more awful experiences with Rick and he comes around to the idea. “I’m in. When they’re boning, we’re free, right?” Harper and Charlie go to absurd lengths to orchestrate meet-cutes, push their bosses into romantic situations, and carefully manipulate every interaction to ensure sparks fly. Their dedication to this matchmaking mission is nothing short of impressive, and the results? Absolutely delightful and hysterical!

Wrapping it up! Of course, as expected in any great rom-com, the more time Harper and Charlie spend together scheming, the more their own chemistry begins to sizzle. Their friendship is built on sarcasm, inside jokes, and mutual suffering, which—let’s be honest—is an incredible foundation for romance. We potatoes have always felt strongly that the greatest romances start with genuine friendship. Watching them go from reluctant allies to honest friends to oh no… feelings is one of the best parts of the film!

One of the biggest strengths of Set It Up, as we mentioned earlier, is its cast! Absolutely perfect! Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell have an effortless chemistry, and electric dynamic that makes their banter feel completely natural which is so incredibly fun to watch. Deutch brings a lovable, quirky energy to Harper, making her both hilarious and deeply relatable. Powell, on the other hand, balances Charlie’s jaded, slightly douchey ambition with enough charm to make him endearing. Their chemistry is truly off the charts, and their scenes together are some of the best in the movie! We laughed so much because of their antics!

We also have to give a standing ovation to Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs, who absolutely steal the show as the demanding bosses! Liu’s portrayal of Kirsten is particularly fantastic—she’s tough, intimidating, and fiercely independent, but never a caricature of the cold career woman trope. She’s an absolute powerhouse, and we potatoes love to see it! Taye Diggs as Rick, on the other hand, is a toxic, immature, walking disaster, but in the most entertaining way possible. We also need to give a small shout out to Creepy Tim (Tituss Burgess)!

Now, we do have a few critiques! While Set It Up is a fun and well-executed rom-com, it highlights a very real issue—workplace environments that demand assistants give up their entire lives to cater to bosses who don’t respect them. This isn’t just an exaggerated rom-com trope; it’s a reality for way too many people. Harper and Charlie are stuck working for bosses who are entitled, self-absorbed, and seemingly incapable of recognizing the humanity in others. We potatoes have seen (and experienced) it firsthand, and let’s be clear—we potatoes personally do not feel that these kinds of people should be in leadership positions. Compassion, empathy, and work-life-balance, are just as important as work ethic in a leader.

Kirsten is not lacking these, unlike Rick, but she still struggles to view Harper as a human being who also needs to eat, sleep, socialize, and have a life outside of work. She uses her passion for her work as an excuse to dehumanize her assistant. Which speaks to a larger problem within our capitalistic system, which has completely normalized dehumanizing fellow human beings in the name of “success” and “productivity.” While the film does poke fun at these dynamics, it would have been nice to see a bit more acknowledgment of how deeply toxic, unhealthy and exploitative these situations are. Work-life balance matters, and no job (or boss) is worth sacrificing your entire existence for.

While Charlie is undeniably charming and funny, we potatoes have to take a moment to unpack some of his more troubling behaviors, particularly in how he treats his girlfriend, Suze (Joan Smalls). To be fair, Suze isn’t the most likable person either. She is vain, self-absorbed, and far more concerned with appearances than depth. She and Charlie don’t actually have anything in common, and it’s painfully obvious that their relationship is built on aesthetics rather than genuine compatibility.

But here’s where Charlie’s internalized misogyny and patriarchal mindset come in—he doesn’t seem to care about who Suze is as a person, because to him, she is a status symbol. He values her for how she makes him look, not for who she actually is. And because of that, he never really respects her. He assumes she is shallow without actually engaging with her beyond surface-level interactions, which, to be fair, she also doesn’t seem particularly interested in either. They both exist in a transactional relationship, one that reinforces the patriarchal notion that men should pursue conventionally attractive women as a marker of their own success rather than seeking out relationships based on shared values, morals, compatibility, and emotional connection.

It’s telling that when Charlie eventually realizes he’s in a hollow relationship, it’s framed as a personal epiphany for him, rather than an acknowledgment that he spent the majority of the movie dismissing, objectifying and looking down on his own partner. His entire arc is steeped in patriarchal thinking—he believes that success is defined by money, proximity to power, and that dating a beautiful model elevates his status. We potatoes wish the film had dug a little deeper into these issues because, in reality, Charlie and Suze’s relationship is a symptom of a much larger societal problem. The fixation on beauty, money, and status over authenticity, happiness, genuine compatibility, emotional maturity, and mutual respect.

Charlie does grow as a person and realizes that the life he thought he wanted isn’t actually right for him. He still has a lot of work to do to unpack his internalized misogyny and patriarchal mindset, but we give him credit for taking those first steps toward an authentic life. Choosing a path that aligns with who you truly are—and encourages real growth—is always worth it.

Harper’s journey is just as important as Charlie’s, and one of the most rewarding aspects of the film is watching her finally take herself seriously. She starts off idolizing Kirsten, dreaming of being a writer but too afraid to actually do the work. She hides behind excuses, telling herself she’s not ready or good enough. She eventually realizes, with the help of her friend Becca (Meredith Hagner) that waiting for the perfect moment is a trap! Writing, even when it’s bad, even when it’s messy, is the only way forward. As we potatoes like to say, “You can’t edit a blank page.” We all have to start somewhere! Harper’s growth isn’t about instant success; it’s about showing up for herself, embracing the process, and having the courage to start. Which we potatoes deeply resonate with, and love!

We also have to acknowledge that while Harper and Charlie’s plan is entertaining, it is…ethically questionable at best. Manipulating two people into a relationship without their knowledge? Not exactly a healthy approach to love. We do appreciate that Harper comes to this realization later… it still came late though. But! Since this is a rom-com, and an excellent one at that, we’re willing to suspend our disbelief and enjoy the chaos.

At its heart, Set It Up is a rom-com that truly understands what makes the genre shine! It’s smart, funny, and filled with just the right amount of absurdity. It embraces all the classic rom-com elements we love—witty banter, ridiculous schemes, slow-burn romance—while adding a fresh, modern twist that keeps it endlessly entertaining. The romance is charming, the humor lands, and the friendships (especially between Harper and her awesome roommate, played by the hilarious Meredith Hagner) add extra warmth and depth.

More than just a love story, Set It Up reminds us that finding success—whether in love, career, or life—isn’t about chasing perfection or clinging to outdated ideas of success and status. If you’re a fan of rom-coms with smart writing, incredible chemistry, personal growth, and a little bit of lighthearted scheming, this is one you don’t want to miss! It’s about embracing the mess, taking risks, and having the courage to figure out what truly makes us happy. Whether it’s Harper finally writing instead of waiting for the “perfect moment” or Charlie realizing that success isn’t just about money and power, the film delivers an uplifting message wrapped in laughter and chaos. Work-life balance is important. Life is meant to be lived, not just endured for the sake of a career.

So here’s to Set It Up! A film that makes us laugh, reflect and celebrate the importance of boundaries, and refusing to let work define us. May we all chase what makes us happy, embrace the chaos, and remember that we don’t have to have it all figured out. Cheers to Harper’s chaotic brilliance, Charlie’s sarcastic charm, and the undeniable truth that Lucy Liu will always be iconic! And, most importantly, cheers to you!

We give this movie 5 out of 5 glasses of single malt whiskey…over 200 dollars of course (Which is waaaay too bougie and expensive for us potatoes…but Rick doth declare!)

The Set It Up Drinking Game

 Take a sip anytime:

1.     Any assistant on screen has a crash-out or freak-out

2.     Anyone mentions sports

3.     Any boss yells

4.     Rick mentions Kiki

5.     Rick loses his temper/throws a tantrum

6.     Rick behaves like the worst

7.     Kirsten pulls out her megaphone

8.     Harper and Charlie collaborate

9.     Harper and Charlie are asked to do unreasonable tasks

10.  Harper and Charlie spy on their bosses

11.  Harper or Charlie stay late

12.  Charlie talks about getting a promotion

13.  Anytime Harper mentions writing or wanting to be a writer

14.  Anytime Creepy Tim is funny  

What did you think? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it? Are you going to watch it? What movies should we watch? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!