When I finally noticed that ‘Office Romance’ was streaming on Netflix, I’ll admit I wasn’t quite interested in it even after I watched the trailer.
However, the prospect of seeing a semi-new release with my mom won out more than anything else.
The flick hinges on several professional workplace relationship faux pas, horrors and blurred lines between private and personal interactions.
Honestly, it’s got a really jumbled up storyline and I think the handful of funny moments are far out-weighed by the cringe sort.
Office Romance is a romantic comedy film directed by Ol Parker, written by Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly.
Goldstein stars alongside Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Amy Sedaris, and Bradley Whitford.
The movie clocks in at 115 minutes long and is rated R for sexual material, language throughout, and graphic nudity.
Jackie Cruz (Lopez) is the iron-willed CEO and President of Air Cruz, a major airline founded by her demanding father Captain Jack Cruz (Olmos).
Despite being under constant and intense scrutiny from the company board and desperate to earn her father’s respect, Jackie runs a remarkably tight ship.
This includes enforcing a rigid, non-negotiable anti-fraternization policy across all tiers of the company.
Jackie’s hyper-focus on her career has left her with a meticulously built but completely isolated personal life.
The status quo is disrupted by the arrival of Daniel Blanchflower (Goldstein), a reserved British attorney unexpectedly hired as the company’s new legal counsel.
He was only appointed to that role after the company’s longstanding lead attorney Peter Vance (Whitford) resigned his position after disagreeing with Jackie.
Daniel only recently relocated to the United States due to complicated family obligations, is assigned a high-stakes litigation case that forces him to work closely with Jackie.
Despite their stark cultural differences and Jackie’s imposing demeanor, the two share an immediate, underlying professional chemistry.
Jackie’s second-in-command Julie Schatz (Sedaris) immediately senses that there is something between Daniel and her boss, but can’t confirm her suspicions due to being distracted by her final stage of pregnancy.
Daniel initially manages to impress Jackie during a corporate deposition, though their proximity severely tests the corporate boundaries Jackie instituted.
The case requires Jackie to personally pilot her private plane for a deposition trip to the Dominican Republic, leaving her completely alone with Daniel.
In the tropical setting, away from the rigid confines of the corporate office, they drop their buttoned-up professional guards.
The pair end up giving in to their mutual attraction and begin a passionate romantic affair.
Upon returning to New Jersey, Jackie and Daniel go to extremes to conceal their relationship from the rest of the company.
However, their efforts are constantly threatened by the chaotic antics of Daniel’s wayward sister Lizzy, and various highly observant office colleagues.
The stakes escalate dramatically when the opposing legal counsel attempts to weaponize Jackie’s personal life against her, threatening the future of Air Cruz and her standing with her father and the board.
The corporate tension reaches a boiling point ahead of a crucial, make-or-break board meeting.
But, like all Rom-Com movies, things get better after Jackie and Daniel spend time weighing their feelings for each other over their respective jobs.
Overall, the film was fairly entertaining, but I’d say it isn’t for everyone and certainly has room for improvement.
