Office Romance Review: The Right Kind Of Wrong

Office Romance isn’t your mother’s rom-com, yet somehow it is. The Brett Goldstein and Jennifer Lopez-starring film takes full advantage of its choice, power, and freedom to do whatever it wants. This leads to a semi-raunchy love story that also plays well within the genre.

It’s not afraid to drop a “cunt” here or there, while hitting all the romantic comedy cliches we love so much. A good romantic comedy doesn’t have to be sophisticated or complex. It can be silly fun.

Some would argue it should be this way.

Jennifer Lopez doesn’t receive enough praise and credit for being such a charming on-screen romantic lead. She always makes you root for her to end up with the man, even if the man is an inappropriate lawyer.

Goldstein is also consistently charming in his roles. He’s someone who captures the art of a man madly in love. The pair doesn’t have once-in-a-lifetime chemistry, but it works.  

He’s a bit weird, and she’s a bit weird, and their weirdness works together.

Love means being insanely inappropriate at work, and normally scaring someone off, but not in Office Romance.

This Netflix film plays within several genres: It’s a romantic story, a raunchy adventure, and a sentimental comedy. This may make fans of all these genres unsure if it does any of them well enough. 

It may be an acquired taste.

Those who dare to appreciate Goldstein and Joe Kelly’s original script may enjoy the hilarity and a bit of the film’s rowdy charm.  It isn’t changing the game, but that doesn’t make it any less creative and enjoyable. 

If a classic joke works, it works.

The film has boner jokes, inappropriate language, strange characters, and insanely strict workers. We have seen all these elements before in many comedy TV shows and movies. 

Nevertheless, Office Romance never makes you feel like it’s running the risk of being too standard.  It’s different enough.

If you want something completely fresh, you won’t find that with this movie. If you want a romantic comedy full of familiar jokes, cliches, and setups, then the film works.

It’s comfort food. Not a healthy treat.

What ultimately sells Office Romance is Jackie and Daniel’s love story.

You fully believe these two hot people can’t stop looking at each other, and decide to say screw professionalism and engage in a potential workplace lawsuit in the making.

This is the most believable part of the film. Nevertheless, a few things don’t quite work because they’re hard to accept as reality

Lopez doesn’t sell us on the idea of her being a strict boss. She seems like a softie from the start. Daniel doesn’t even really have to work to get through to the softer interior

The office’s strict dating rules are another thing hard to believe. Of course, some jobs have policies that require employees to disclose if they start dating, but the Office Romance ones feel unrealistic. Then the whole case that’s haunting Jackie doesn’t make too much sense, and Sydney’s investment in her boss’s affairs seems far-fetched.

So, yes, the script has some issues, but the main aspects work. Don’t watch this film because you want a life-changing movie experience.

Watch it because you enjoy some silly romantic comedy that understands the genre, while trying to do things a little differently. Watch it because you want to know if Lopez and Goldstein can sell you on their love story.

Spoiler: they can.

What did you think of Office Romance? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

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Office Romance is streaming on Netflix.

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