Official Trailer
Rating: 6/10 | Genre: Romance, Comedy | Runtime: 113 min
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin, Edward James Olmos, Bradley Whitford
I went into Office Romance expecting the usual rom-com formula, and honestly, that’s pretty much what I got. But sometimes that’s okay. Sometimes you just want to watch attractive people fumble around until they realize they like each other, and this movie delivers that without trying too hard to be something it’s not.
Jennifer Lopez plays Jackie, this no-nonsense CEO who’s built her airline company on rules. Lots of rules. The biggest one: nobody dates anybody at work. It’s actually a pretty funny setup because you know exactly what’s going to happen the second a new sexy lawyer walks through the door. That lawyer is Brett Goldstein, and he’s playing it charming but not over-the-top, which I appreciated. He doesn’t try to be some dreamboat. He’s just a guy who’s good at his job and happens to be attractive.
The first hour moves pretty fast. Jackie and this lawyer guy, Marcus, keep running into each other around the office. There’s banter. There’s that moment where they’re in the elevator together and the sexual tension is supposed to be obvious but it’s kind of awkward. Eventually they hook up at a company event, and Jackie absolutely freaks out about it. She starts avoiding him. He gets frustrated. You know where this goes.
What actually works here is the supporting cast. Betty Gilpin plays Jackie’s best friend and right-hand woman, and she’s the one giving advice that’s sometimes good and sometimes terrible. Edward James Olmos is Jackie’s father and the former CEO, and he keeps showing up to remind her that running a company doesn’t mean you can’t have a life. Bradley Whitford is wasted as some board member villain, but his scenes are mercifully short.
The pacing gets weird in the middle though. There’s this whole subplot about Marcus wanting to prove himself as a lawyer that doesn’t really go anywhere, and it slows down the romance stuff without adding much. The movie kind of just marks time for like thirty minutes before it remembers what it’s supposed to be doing.
Jennifer Lopez does fine in the role. She’s playing stern and uptight, which is easy, but she also has to show Jackie slowly realizing she’s being kind of cold and robotic. Those moments where she cracks a smile feel earned. Brett Goldstein is likable throughout, even when his character is being kind of pushy about wanting to date her despite the whole rule situation. The chemistry between them isn’t electric or anything, but it’s pleasant enough.
The soundtrack is fine. There’s one scene where they’re having dinner and listening to some indie folk song that felt very Netflix rom-com, but it worked for the moment. Nothing memorable, but nothing bad either.
Here’s my main issue: nothing about this movie surprises you. Not even a little bit. You know the big climax is coming where Jackie has to choose between her company and her heart. You know that speech is happening. You know how it ends. The movie knows you know too, so it just gets to the point and does the thing. There’s no twist, no real obstacle that feels important. It’s all pretty surface level.
The runtime is 113 minutes, and honestly, that’s about fifteen minutes too long. There’s padding. There are scenes that exist just to give characters time on screen. A tighter version of this movie would be better.
Look, I’m not upset I watched it. Office Romance is the kind of movie you put on when you want something light and kind of dumb that doesn’t require your full attention. It’s perfectly fine. It’s not trying to reinvent anything. The performances are solid. It looks fine. It’s just not memorable.
Would you rather rewatch something you actually love, or is there room in your movie watching for forgettable fun like this?
Where to Watch
Streaming availability varies by region. Check your favorite streaming platform to see if this title is available in your country.