The expected thrill of Office Romance is literally glaring in its title. Think about the biblical Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit but here, two workhalics must go against the office dating policy to pursue a forbidden relationship.
One would expect intense sneaking around, stealing kisses, raunchy moments, hilarious pretence, and heart-pumping scenes of almost getting caught in the office. These are some of the moments Office Romance failed to deeply capture.
Based on a script written by Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly, Ol Parker directed Office Romance follows Jackie Cruz, played by Jennifer Lopez of Maid in Manhattan (2002). She is the typical ‘All work and no play’ ambitious career woman. The description justifies her crucial position as the president and CEO of Air Cruz.
Jackie’s company runs on a rigid anti-fraternisation policy for all employees. When Air Cruz receives a disposition from a competitor and Daniel Blanchflower, a sexy British lawyer steps in, the policy and Jackie’s emotions are severely tested in defiance of the company’s zero tolerance dating policy.
Unable to resist their intense love and chemistry, Jackie and Daniel, who are both successful in their careers by every conventional measure, are forced to start questioning the lives they’ve carefully built. What begins as a workplace romance gradually becomes one of vulnerability, expectations and fighting for a love they both believe is real.
Office romances offer a rich premise for romantic comedies especially as opposites often attract, turning two unlikely personalities into lovers. In the case of Jackie and Daniel, their culture clash already poses a difference in their personalities. Jackie is American.
She is portrayed as mean and feared by her employees. Daniel is British. He is confident and isn’t afraid to face anyone including the ‘feared’ Jackie. These differences bring them closer to each other. However, for this film, the potential of the office romance angle is underexplored.
For an office romance, viewers are deprived of intense office scenes that capture the irresistible chemistry of Jackie and Daniel. The closest was a scene where they got into an elevator at work and decided to make out, risking being caught. Other romantic scenes are taken out of the office like the island escape and secret home visits.
On performances, Goldstein’s lovestruck performance didn’t quite hit the mark. The ‘embarrassing’ first meeting with Lopez where he gets a boner reduces his highly moral character seen at the beginning of the film. What a first meeting. It is unsettling that Lopez finds it funny and starts overthinking it.
This raises a question about whether they genuinely felt love or simply experienced arousal, as depicted in the film, where both parties have been celibate due to work commitments interfering with their love lives. For Lopez and Goldstein, they are placed on a pedestal so high in Office Romance that they struggle to immersively embody their roles and chemistry as lovers.
A supporting actor that salvages the film’s performances is Betty Gilpin, who plays Jackie’s work obsessed pregnant deputy and friend. She holds most of the comedic core of the film. She seems to understand her role better and take control in every scene she appears. The father-daughter dynamics between Lopez and Edward James Olmos is underexplored despite the central connection to the film.
For someone who has previously delivered a similar but more impressive bubbly and flirtatious character particularly in Maid in Manhattan (2002) and The Wedding Planner, Lopez surely could have done more. Office Romance fails to remedy her dexterity in the genre. In this latest romantic comedy, where she plays the lead, she is too relaxed, bringing no noticeable effort into her role or maybe it is the script’s fault.
Something interesting about the Office Romance is how it packages the seriousness behind ‘work’ into something romantic through Lopez and Goldstein’s dialogue. For example, during their trip to the Dominican Republic where they finally open up about their feelings for the first time.
Goldstein tells Lopez “I really love working with you…” and yet it translates into a tone that sounds like “I really love you.” It is serious and romantic at the same time. Goldstein says something similar towards the end of the film at the Press Conference scene. He says, “I love you and I want to work with you.”
Music effectively enhances the film’s romantic atmosphere, especially during the trip, blending nostalgic 80s pop, modern soul, and lively Dominican rhythms. Notably, Fade Into You with live and local performance in the scene. The cinematography is visually appealing and fulfils its role effectively.
Lest I forget, the revelation of Jackie’s fetish and obsession with British culture was meant to be funny but it wasn’t. She has a room dedicated to everything British, all from her trip there. When Goldstein asks her, “You have a thing for British guys?” it is valid and most importantly raises questions about their connection and the idea behind their unlikely love. Would Jackie have fallen for him if he weren’t British?
There’s also the subtle misogyny in the film that is left unresolved. Jackie’s potential as CEO and career was constantly reduced to sleeping her way through it and the notion was not corrected till credits rolled. In all, Office Romance is a pretty decent romantic comedy but lacks a resonating effect on viewers. It keeps dancing around the genre but never truly hits the mark.
Release Date: June 5, 2026.
Runtime: 1 hour, 54 minutes.
Streaming Platform : Netflix
Director (s): Ol Parker
Cast (s): Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin, Edward James Olmos, Bradley Whitford, Amy Sedaris, Jodie Whittaker, Mary Wiseman, Tony Hale, Jackie Sandler, and Roger Bart.
