Club Benefits
- Rating: 2/5 stars
- Verdict: "'Office Romance' is another flavorless rom-com for Netflix's vast movie catalog. Its conflicting tone, ill-matched leads, and refusal to rewrite the genre script sink any ambitions of standing out. Then again, 'Office Romance' doesn't seem to have any aspiration of being anything other than a disposable rom-com in the first place."
- Where to watch: "Office Romance" is on Netflix now
It’s rather fitting that Netflix’s new romantic comedy about a workplace affair is so bluntly titled “Office Romance.” It’s the sort of matter-of-fact title that befits a movie completely lacking in the creative department. It’s a serviceable vehicle for its two stars, Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein (who also co-writes), but rather than sizzle, it just sort of sputters along.
To cut the movie a little slack, the popular streaming service has released plenty of worse movies. Heck, it’s had worse comedy originals within the last few weeks (“Office Romance” never plunges to the depths of last month’s painfully misjudged “Ladies First”), nor is it the worst Netflix project that Lopez has been involved in; that would be 2024’s “Atlas.”
Rigidly sticking to the general playbook and failing to mine any chemistry from its leads, not to mention an odd mishmash of tones, prevents “Office Romance” from being anything other than content. Yes, it will probably be watched by millions of Netflix subscribers, but few will truly fall in love with this romantic comedy. “Office Romance” is the genre on autopilot.
What is ‘Office Romance’ about?
Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez) is the high-flying CEO of airline company, Cruz Air. Her take-no-prisoners approach to business has made the company a success, even as she bats away accusations of nepotism, having inherited the role from her father (Edward James Olmos).
Another accusation she faces is sleeping her way into landing an important company account. It’s the job of the newly hired lawyer, Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein), to defend Jackie from this spurious accusation.
Despite the company’s rule against workplace romances, Jackie and Daniel grow closer, sparking a relationship that, as the genre dictates, starts casual before getting serious. With both their reputations on the line, they have to navigate their new office romance in secret, but outside forces threaten their personal and professional partnership.
‘Office Romance’ lacks passion and playfulness
In the hands of veteran rom-com director Ol Parker (“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” “Ticket to Paradise”), “Office Romance” hits all the expected genre beats. It rigidly sticks to an established formula that any seasoned rom-com watcher will be intimately familiar with. Such predictability isn’t necessarily a fatal flaw; there can be comfort in sticking to what works, but “Office Romance” fumbles by not giving viewers a reason to get invested.
Jennifer Lopez plays her role as a fiercely independent businesswoman well enough, and a later scene with Jackie’s father (an underused Edward James Olmos) lets her flex a few dramatic muscles. But the chemistry with co-star Brett Goldstein never quite connects. Perhaps it’s the odd decision to make Goldstein’s Daniel speak with a stereotypical "posh" British accent, an inflection that the gruff actor seems deeply uncomfortable nailing. It’s waved away as Daniel wanting to appear professional, but it’s a strange decision and leads to some very awkward line readings.
Their relationship starts frosty — Jackie underestimates Daniel before he dazzles her in a legal deposition that doesn’t pass the sniff test — and a scene where Daniel gets "aroused" while shaking Jackie’s hand is too ludicrous to pass as farcical comedy. Eventually, as their romance heats up, rather than sizzle, it falls flat. Though a scene where Daniel discovers Jackie’s secret room of British paraphernalia is a rare moment of charm.
Most keenly felt are “Office Romance’s" tonal problems. This could have been a perfectly pleasant PG-13-rated rom-com, but going R-rated doesn’t add to the comedy, but to the confusion. Daniel’s exasperation at Americans not understanding Brits using the word “c**t” as a term of endearment — more of an Aussie habit — sticks out, as does the inclusion of Jodie Whittaker as Daniel’s incarcerated sister, in prison for cutting off a man’s head with a machette. These crude gags feel at odds with the glossy rom-com that houses them.
From the drop, it’s blindingly obvious where “Office Romance” is going, and when the big declaration of love in the third act comes, it lands with a whimper. The movie’s crescendo isn’t helped by a haphazard cut to credits that feels a bit like a mid-flight movie being unceremoniously switched off because the plane is ready for landing. Granted, I didn’t particularly want to spend a few extra minutes in the company of these bland characters.
It’s hard to make a rom-com feel fresh in 2026, but “Office Romance’s” greatest sin is that it doesn’t bother to try. Parker’s direction is workmanlike; it gets the job done without any flourish, and Lopez and Goldenstiein lack the chemistry to elevate the predictable material. “Office Romance” is a rom-com by way of corporate sanitization. It won’t have HR banging down the door in protest, but by sticking to a tired playbook, the final result is deeply uninspired.
If you want to swerve “Office Romance,” here’s a guide to everything new on Netflix in June 2026. Or for some upcoming Netflix original that will hopefully be a little more exciting, here are my top picks for the new Netflix movies I can’t wait to stream later this summer.
Watch "Office Romance" on Netflix now
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