Office Romance has all the hallmarks of a conventional romcom propped up by Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein on solid form. It might not reinvent the wheel when it comes to traditional tropes, but Office Romance on Netflix is an easy way to while away under two hours. With odd couple chemistry and a dynamic which elevates their meet cute moment, audiences may be surprised by just how easy this film is to watch.
As the CEO of a family-owned airline who falls for her own corporate lawyer, Office Romance draws jokes from the polarity of their power dynamic early on, resorting to farce alongside the more traditional culture clash one-liners. There is no denying the movie star status of Jennifer Lopez even now, while the ascension of Brett Goldstein through Ted Lasso and Shrinking is equally impressive. From a creative point of view, it must have felt like a no-brainer, and one that ultimately pays off.
Another weapon in the arsenal of Office Romance is Betty Gilpin and Bradley Whitford. Seasoned character actors from other Netflix fare including Glow and The Diplomat, these forces of nature chew scenery at every opportunity. As a venomous and heavily pregnant personal assistant Gilpin does her best to steal every scene, while Whitford comes in and railroads his way through an extended cameo.
Image Courtesy of Netflix
Disregarding audience expectations they form a solid foundation beneath the headline players, adding essential colour to a premise that threatens to feel pedestrian. The tic box exercise of coincidences that come together in this Netflix original are offset by some world class slapstick, broad stroke character work, and a cast commitment that belies its copybook origins.
Office Romance never claims to be the most groundbreaking romantic comedy in the world, but at least it has the self-awareness to acknowledge that fact. There was a time when Jennifer Lopez was everywhere all at once, with chart-topping success, an eclectic movie career in the making, and countless other ventures. Her performance as a headstrong CEO avoiding love will remind audiences what a natural Lopez remains in front of the camera.
Her opposite number proves to be a revelation in the role of Daniel Blanchflower, embracing his British roots and introducing some very English humour into the equation. Audiences might get the distinct impression that Goldstein is punching way above his weight alongside Lopez, but that mismatch is exactly the point of this movie. In the true tradition of romcoms dating back to early Hollywood opposites have needed to attract, and here that trope comes through loud and clear.
However, for anyone expecting an original romantic comedy prepare to temper your expectations. This is no Annie Hall or The Worst Person in the World, but then again, it never pretends to be. At best what Office Romance manages to do is deliver a romcom with just enough wit and charm to keep everyone watching, which is no bad thing.
Office Romance is streaming on Netflix now.