Superstar actress Jennifer Lopez is making waves on the streaming circuit with her latest film, Office Romance. The film hit Netflix this week amid hype that Lopez’s on-screen fling with Brett Goldstein would dazzle fans.
While the film itself is great for a night in, the flick has failed to impress critics. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 50% critic score. While not awful, the subpar score doesn’t do the film justice. The viewer score is much higher at 63%, showing that it’s a modest hit with moviegoers thus far.
The biggest criticism is the predictable plot lines and less-than-impressive dialogue. But then again, such an assessment might be a little too harsh for the flick.
One of the harshest critics dropped the hammer on the film.
“Very bad. No chemistry with a birthing scene that was hard to believe.”
The comments seem unjustified, considering the relatively positive press across the board. Screen Rant’s own review gave Office Romance 7 of 10 stars. The largely positive review seems to clash with what critics saw on the screen.
One of the most crucial points is the film’s traditional rom-com development. But then again, who doesn’t want to enjoy a tried-and-true love story? After all, Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to hit romantic comedies. Films such as Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner are among the star’s biggest hits.
Ultimately, Office Romance is one of those feel-good films that doesn’t get the justice it deserves from critics. Perhaps the traditional rom-com formula could be making a return, particularly on streaming platforms. And Office Romance could just be the tip of the spear.
Jennifer Lopez No Stranger to Streaming Success
Jennifer Lopez, as successful as she’s been on the big screen, has made a pretty big name for herself on streaming. 2023’s Shotgun Wedding, featured on Prime Video, was a good example of a “predictable” formula that worked.
But when it comes to Netflix, Lopez has had trouble following up on her 2022 hit Halftime. While the feature was a documentary, her films The Mother (2023) and Atlas (2024), despite topping view counts, did not sit too well with critics.
The Mother got a 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, while Atlas bombed at 17%. But like Office Romance, the films fared much better with fans. The films scored a 62% and 46%, respectively, with viewers.
Office Romance Certainly Worth the While
For those looking to have a good time, Jennifer Lopez certainly delivers in Office Romance. The film, while not precisely an Oscar nominee for Best Picture, follows the pattern of a standard rom-com. While there may not be insane plot lines, that’s not the purpose of this film.
It’s the type of movie fans can curl up and watch during an evening in with friends and family. Considering how thin movies and series can get on streaming from time to time, it’s good to have a solid film to enjoy over a pizza and a couple of drinks.
And there’s nothing wrong with that, no matter what critics think.
