Office Romance Review: Jennifer Lopez Brings the Heat in This Corny, Charming Rom-Com
- Barbara
- 25 minutes ago
- 2 min read
I went into this Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy expecting something light and maybe a little forgettable but I was genuinely surprised. Co-written by Brett Goldstein, the film is corny in all the right ways, full of charm, humor, and a few eye-opening moments that make it more interesting than expected. Overall, this is a fun, exciting ride of entertainment that surprises and tickles the fancy with its blend of romance and life. It has ridiculous moments, super performances and a light energy that makes it easy to enjoy. It was also wonderful seeing Edward James Olmos, Tony Plana, and Bradley Whitford again.
The movie begins with a seemingly misleading moment where you think Jackie and Daniel are meeting on a first date, but it quickly flips the perspective. Instead, we see them both on separate disastrous first dates with two terrible people. Both nights end with regret. Their real first impressions of each other are completely different from what we’re first led to believe. Jackie is immediately perturbed, while Daniel is stunned into awkward, incoherent babbling. Jackie’s right-hand woman also instantly dislikes Daniel because she believes he could potentially destroy everything Jackie has built in her company.
It’s great seeing a powerful female CEO and pilot in Jackie at the center of the story, leading the way in a male-dominated space. Even so, she still has to deal with patriarchy, and surprisingly, some of it comes from her own father. Daniel picks up on this right away, and it becomes one of the things that slowly shifts Jackie’s perspective. There are also some really cute and awkward romantic beats, especially when Daniel accidentally stumbles onto a more intimate side of Jackie. She’s embarrassed that he sees this part of her, but he embraces it, and it ends up adding something new and honest to their relationship.
One of the most impressive parts of the film is when Jackie expertly navigates their plane through a storm and safely gets them to their destination in the Dominican Republic. It’s a standout moment that really highlights her strength and skill under pressure. Another storyline that raises questions is Daniel’s relationship with his incarcerated sister, Lizzy. He doesn’t tell Jackie the full truth early on, and it creates tension later when she starts feeling betrayed. Daniel, on the other hand, feels like she’s bordering on being irrational at times. Lizzy is actually the one person who truly understands him, and interestingly, she and Jackie end up getting along.
I didn’t think there would be much to this movie, but I was happily surprised to be wrong. I’ve watched it three times now, and it holds up as corny, light-hearted, and silly, but very entertaining. It has a nice feel to it overall. I loved seeing powerful women working in the corporate world and succeeding despite personal obstacles. There are also some life lessons sprinkled throughout. I also liked how it blended American and British humor so easily, and the fashion was fantastic. I really enjoyed it, earning a strong 4.5 out of 5 rating.
What did you think?
Loved it
Hated it
So/So