Film Review – Office Romance (2026)

      **Office Romance, 2026.**

      Directed by Ol Parker.

      Featuring Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, Amy Sedaris, Edward James Olmos, Tony Hale, Jodie Whittaker, Mary Wiseman, Tony Plana, Roger Bart, Jackie Sandler, Donald Elise Watkins, Natalie Ortega, Brian Gallivan, Ali Stroker, Michelle Hurd, Scott Seiss, Lisa Gilroy, Rick Hoffman, Will Sasso, and Mo Welch.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Jackie, the President and CEO of Air Cruz, maintains strict control over her company, including a firm anti-fraternization policy for employees. However, her rules are challenged when a charismatic new lawyer joins her team.

      With Jennifer Lopez portraying the overworked airline CEO Jackie Cruz, who is striving to impress a board dominated by men — all eager to find reasons to dismiss her — along with her father Captain Jack (Edward James Olmos), the film Office Romance, directed by Ol Parker, quickly gains sympathy for her character. The script, crafted by co-stars Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly, effectively balances humor and commentary on workplace relationships, thereby enhancing a premise that could otherwise feel quite familiar in the rom-com genre.

      While there are valid reasons for the hesitancy around office romances in real life, and Jackie actively enforces these rules (with support from an HR head played amusingly by Tony Hale), her commitment to her work leaves little room for personal connections. This shifts when a humorous food-choking incident sidelines the company lawyer Peter Vance (Bradley Whitford, who delivers a comical performance filled with heightened antics), allowing Brett Goldstein’s endearingly polite Daniel Blanchflower to step in as the attorney for a significant deposition. The chemistry between him and Jackie builds on mutual respect and their undeniable attraction, prompting an instinct to support their budding romance.

      The film also boasts a strong supporting cast, contributing to themes of balancing career and personal life. A standout is Betty Gilpin’s pregnant assistant Sydney Bloom, who grows envious as Jackie begins to spend more time with Daniel, both during office hours and on a business trip to the Dominican Republic. Although not every joke succeeds (for instance, a scene where Daniel experiences an erection during his first meeting with Jackie feels uninspired), the filmmakers invest time in developing their relationship so that their eventual intimacy resonates with passion.

      Additionally, there’s a subplot concerning Daniel that might have looked better in theory than in execution, as it struggles to serve its purpose in preventing him from fully engaging in the office romance. The storyline revolves around his sister (Jodie Whittaker), who is incarcerated for a violent crime, though her character lacks depth and the film treats her situation humorously, neglecting any serious reflection. The potential consequences of his relationship with Jackie becoming public are portrayed as a point of tension but feel somewhat clichéd, merely providing a backdrop for miscommunication between the characters.

      In a society marked by sexism, the repercussions for Jackie would be far more severe if anyone on the board were to discover her involvement with an employee. Although the film hints at a predictable, happy ending for this romantic endeavor, the threat of backlash keeps viewers anxious, rooting for Jackie as she faces potential criticism.

      Furthermore, the chemistry between Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein is captivating, generating a palpable tension that encourages audiences to wish for their union despite workplace norms. The film subtly highlights that a male CEO in a similar situation might be treated leniently and would likely regain his standing, unlike a woman who might find it almost impossible to ascend the corporate ladder again. While Office Romance doesn’t delve deeply into this topic, it wisely avoids becoming overly serious, focusing instead on fulfilling the classic elements of a romantic comedy.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★**

      Robert Kojder