Film Review: Office Romance 同事以上，戀人未滿 (2026) - USA
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)
I rated it 7.5/10
Rating: ★ ★ ★ 1/2
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In the realm of romantic comedies, where formulas are as reliable as the sunrise and hearts beat in predictable 4/4 time, Office Romance arrives like a well-tailored suit—sharp, confident, and just a little daring at the edges. It earns a solid marks from me: not a masterpiece that rewrites the genre, but a thoroughly enjoyable flight that knows exactly what altitude it wants to cruise at and delivers with charm to spare.
Jennifer Lopez, ever the queen of the modern rom-com, slips back into the role of Jackie Cruz, iron-willed CEO of Air Cruz airlines, as if she never left the genre that once made her a household name. Jackie is a woman forged in the fires of boardroom battles and familial expectations—her late father’s legacy hangs over the company like a permanent turbulence warning. She enforces a zero-tolerance anti-fraternization policy with the precision of a seasoned pilot, because in her world, control is the only way to keep everything from spiraling. Lopez brings warmth, vulnerability, and that signature star power to the part; you believe her as both formidable executive and a woman long overdue for a personal detour.
Enter Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower, the new in-house lawyer whose British wit and disarming presence immediately test the very rules Jackie holds sacred. Goldstein, drawing from his Ted Lassoaffability but layering it with sharper edges, creates a character who feels like a genuine match—intellectually equal, quick with a quip, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. Their chemistry crackles from the meet-cute onward, fueled by shared workaholic tendencies and the delicious forbidden-fruit tension of office proximity. The film isn’t shy about its R-rating; it leans into playful raunch and adult innuendo without tipping into crudeness, letting the physical and emotional pull feel earned rather than obligatory.
Ol Parker’s direction keeps the pacing brisk and the visuals glossy—corporate boardrooms gleaming under fluorescent ambition, sun-drenched getaways that offer brief respites from the altitude of high-stakes decisions. The supporting cast shines in the turbulence: Betty Gilpin and others provide welcome comic relief and grounded perspective, reminding us that even the most buttoned-up executives are human underneath the power suits. There are predictable beats—misunderstandings, boardroom pressures, the classic “will they risk it all?” dilemma—but the script smartly grounds them in themes of legacy, vulnerability, and the courage to rewrite one’s own rules.
What elevates Office Romance beyond mere escapism is its quiet acknowledgment of the cost of hyper-competence. Jackie and Daniel aren’t just falling in love; they’re confronting what it means to let the heart override the carefully calibrated autopilot of career and control. It’s not profound, but it’s honest in its lightness, and in a streaming landscape cluttered with forgettable fare, that sincerity lands like a smooth touchdown.
Is it revolutionary? No. But in the hands of Lopez and Goldstein, with Parker at the controls, it’s a breezy, heartfelt ride worth boarding. For those craving a rom-com that balances steam, smarts, and heart—Office Romance delivers turbulence with a smile. (Neo, 2026)