Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Office Romance’ Rotten Tomatoes Score and Critics’ Reactions

Jennifer Lopez returns to the romantic comedy scene with ‘Office Romance’, but critics are split on whether the film offers enough laughs and emotional depth.

Currently, the movie holds a 54 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews, indicating a divide among reviewers. Some appreciated its nostalgic charm, while others felt it leaned too heavily on familiar tropes.

Directed by Ol Parker and penned by Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly, ‘Office Romance’ features Lopez as Jackie Cruz and Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower. The film explores a workplace romance and boasts a notable supporting cast, including Betty Gilpin, Amy Sedaris, Tony Hale, Bradley Whitford, Jodie Whittaker, Edward James Olmos, and Rick Hoffman.

Positive reviews often highlight the chemistry between Lopez and Goldstein. Alex Harrison from Screen Rant rated the film 7 out of 10, mentioning that he spent much of the runtime smiling. He noted that while the film may feel uneven at times, his overall experience was filled with joy, stating, “My default state watching Office Romance was a giddy smile.” Harrison suggests that the movie serves as a delightful nod to classic romantic comedies.

Ema Sasic from Next Best Picture also praised the leads, giving the film a 7 out of 10. She remarked, “Seeing these two get steamy on screen is worth the price of admission (or subscription) alone.” This highlights the strength of Lopez and Goldstein’s on-screen chemistry.

USA Today’s Brian Truitt also leaned positive, awarding the film 3 out of 4 stars. He acknowledged that while it employs many familiar romantic comedy elements, it balances them with broad humor. Truitt noted, “The film can’t escape all of the usual genre tropes or overt sentimentality, yet that’s tempered by a bawdy sense of humor and fits of wild broad comedy.”

David Ehrlich from IndieWire also gave a favorable review, scoring the film a B-. He emphasized Lopez’s performance, stating, “Office Romance suggests that Lopez is still determined to create a work-life balance on her own terms, and that’s reason enough to stick around for Jackie and Daniel’s happily ever after.”

However, not all critics were impressed. Some felt the film failed to introduce anything new to the genre. Brian Orndorf from Blu-ray.com gave it a D+ and argued that it lacked warmth despite its heartfelt intentions, stating, “It’s far raunchier than it needs to be, and Parker struggles with sincerity, leaving matters awfully cold in a production attempting to produce warmth.”

The New York Post’s Johnny Oleksinski was even more critical, giving the film just 1.5 out of 4 stars. He argued that modern romantic comedies require fresh ideas rather than recycling old formulas, stating, “I still love the genre. But the key to saving romantic comedies is not by replicating 25-year-old movies that haven’t aged particularly well with the same stars.”

Monica Castillo from AV Club also expressed disappointment, giving the film a D-. She felt that both the romance and comedy failed to resonate, writing, “While the romance here feels tenuous at best, the comedy is in even worse shape, often mistaking uncomfortable oversharing for punchlines. If this was meant to be a return to form for Lopez, it’s not a satisfying comeback.”

Deadline’s Pete Hammond shared similar sentiments, stating that the screenplay relies too heavily on familiar romantic comedy conventions and offers little that audiences haven’t seen before. Lisa Kennedy of The New York Times noted that the writers crammed too many ideas and character moments into one film, resulting in an uneven final product.

Overall, reactions to ‘Office Romance’ suggest that fans of classic romantic comedies may find enjoyment, particularly in the performances of Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. However, many critics believe the film struggles to inject new life into a genre that has evolved significantly over the years. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 54 percent, ‘Office Romance’ seems to be a film that audiences might appreciate more than some critics.

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