Picture Credit: Netflix
From director Ol Parker (Ticket to Paradise, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) and the Ted Lasso writing team of Brett Goldstein & Joe Kelly, Office Romance is a dream scenario conceived on a train ride and wishcasted with only one actress in mind: the film’s lead Jennifer Lopez. While discussing what they would do next after Ted Lasso, Goldstein, who also stars in the film opposite J-Lo, and Kelly bonded over their love of old school rom-coms, created the idea on the ride leaving set, and had Jennifer Lopez at the top of their one-woman list. Once a script was written, it was sent to their #1 choice with a note saying they only had her in mind and couldn’t make it without her. From her acceptance, a new Netflix romantic comedy production was born.
Differentiating itself from past J-Lo rom-coms – a subject in which Goldstein is truly a scholar- Office Romance allows Lopez to be in a more high-powered role as Jackie Cruz, the CEO of a family-run airline started by her legendary pilot father Captain Jack Cruz (played by Edward James Olmos). Being constantly challenged by the board and under fire with lawsuits levied by their competition, Jackie can be seen as an intimidating presence who runs a tight ship at Air Cruz with some strict rules – including a rigid anti-fraternization policy that strictly forbids inter-office relationships.
But when her usual corporate lawyer falls ill, a new in-house counselor Daniel Blanchflower (Goldstein) takes over a lawsuit brought against her and catches the attention of the very single CEO. Testing her dedication to her policies, her fears of how things could be used against her, & her fears of being hurt again, Jackie must figure out what’s most important to her before she loses it all.
Beyond Lopez, Goldstein, & Olmos, the cast also features well established actors such as Glow star Betty Gilpin, Get Out’s Bradley Whitford, Strangers With Candy lead Amy Sedaris, Doctor Who herself Jodie Whitaker, Arrested Development funny man Tony Hale, Star Trek: Discovery standout Mary Wiseman, Actor Award nominee Tony Plana (Ugly Betty, One Day at a Time), & Law & Order mainstay Michelle Hurd.
Office Romance. (L-R) Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz and Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower in Office Romance. Cr. Ana Carballosa/Netflix © 2026.
While that is an impressive & deep cast list, the best part about Office Romance is that I could keep listing more and more as the smallest parts get some of the biggest laughs. Like go-to bad date scenario actress Lisa Gilroy, whom I saw do slightly less unhinged versions of this on “Shrinking” and the “Scrubs” reboot, completely takes over the opening moments of the film by getting drunk, instigating a fight with a restaurant patron, & falling on her face before trying to catch a smooch covered in blood when Daniel walks her home; or maybe comedian Will Sasso sharing those early moments by talking about jerking off to his ex-wife while at a business dinner with Jackie. While these are just two early examples, the film continues to fill any less romantic moments with moments of legit comedy chops, especially from Jackie’s ride or die colleague Sydney played by Betty Gilpin (having a moment right now between this and her episode of “Widow’s Bay”) whose hilarious pregnancy, post-pregnancy (going back to work the next day), and whisper fight with Daniel is some of the best work in the movie.
When it comes to romance, however, the film finds itself fully aware that the “Helen of Troy (banging) Mr. Bean” differential in its leads does not always make for proper sparks and swooning energy. Many undercuts, silly swerves (throwing each other over a bed, tripping, awkward dialogue), and sight gags (Buckingham Palace Guard roleplay, etc.) take our focus off the fact that these two may spend time together and say couple things, but Goldstein rather get his R rating for saying cunt and seeing … a birth… than actually looking like a passionate duo. Depending on what you think you came to this movie for, it may not be the best of your favorite aspects of the genre.
While there are also some lesser subplots like the kindly, horny, yet murderous sister and the mostly unearned father-daughter conclusion, Office Romance still manages to entertain thanks to the safe floor of such capable hands (mixing metaphors?) as Goldstein (Kelly with writing), Lopez (in a genre movie register she feels more compelling in), & Director Ol Parker (fully capable of working with large ensemble casts with star power at the center).
Office Romance. (L-R) Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz and Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower in Office Romance. Cr. Ana Carballosa/Netflix © 2026.
While the streaming viewer stats will tell me Lopez has picked some winners since her critically acclaimed turn in Hustlers, for me, she has struggled to put something as good as this out into the world in some time. Marry Me, Shotgun Wedding, and her two Netflix critical duds, The Mother & Atlas (cringe!), barely registered as passable if not completely devoid of any substance. In Jackie Cruz, Lopez can actually be front and center using her charms and relentless beauty to convince us this pairing may be something worth rooting for.
As a devoted watcher of both Ted Lasso and Shrinking, my curiosity in Office Romance centered more on Goldstein as an exercise in separation from his critical darlings & culturally significant characters. What does his humor & interests look like beyond a stacked team that includes showrunners like Bill Lawrence or creatives like Jason Segel, Neil Goldman, Ashley Nicole Black, & Zack Bornstein? This film shows his strengths in being surrounded by incredible talents, knowing where his limitations are, knowing the beats of the genres he enjoys, and punctuating his work with witty discomfort and the occasional extreme blowout gag.
Regardless of who or what you’re rooting for, Office Romance should satisfy for a Friday night cuddle or a stay-at-home laugh. It may sacrifice sizzle for silliness, but with the pieces Goldstein, Parker, & Lopez surround themselves with, it’s probably the right call.
Be sure to stay through the credits for the hilarious HR sequence that may have as many laughs as the rest of the film combined.
Watch Office Romance If You Liked
- Set It Up
- The Hating Game
- The Proposal
- The Wedding Planner
- Ticket to Paradise
MVP of Office Romance
Betty Gilpin as Sydney Bloom
It would be very easy to give Goldstein the honors as he writes, produces, & stars in this one, but there is something about Betty Gilpin in her performance as Sydney that seemed to pop in every scene she’s in.
Gilpin gets to be devious & ridiculous as she slips between 3rd wheel cooler, snide executive, & pregnant punchline with almost a silent era physicality at times. Her whisper fight with Goldstein is just as important as her rejection of every Goldstein “You wanted to see me?”. She’s the most consistent form of comedy in the film, but also extremely capable as a confident business woman and a resource to Lopez’s Jackie.
Lopez & Goldstein may not make the Rom-Com Chemistry Hall of Fame, but a deep cast and a script packed with more humor than your average film of the genre will make this a fun night at home.
