A Promising Premise Ruined: The Foul-Mouthed 'Office Romance' Falls Flat

The highly-anticipated Netflix movie 'Office Romance' had all the makings of a classic romantic comedy - a talented cast, a promising premise, and a setting that oozed sophistication. Unfortunately, the film's execution fell woefully short, marred by gratuitous foul language that left a bad taste in the mouth of this viewer.

Directed by and starring a cast of Emmy winners and nominees, 'Office Romance' follows the story of Jackie Cruz (played by the incomparable Jennifer Lopez), the CEO of the fictional airline AirCruz, and Daniel Blanchflower (played by Brett Goldstein), a newly hired corporate attorney from England who finds himself at odds with the company's strict anti-fraternization policy. The premise had all the makings of a great romance - two successful, smart individuals from different backgrounds navigating the complexities of office politics and personal relationships.

Unfortunately, the screenwriters seemed to think that the key to making this romance work lay in peppered the script with excessive profanity. Newsflash: it doesn't. At least, not in this case. Lopez and Goldstein, both talented actors, struggled to create any genuine chemistry between their characters, and the dull, predictable plot only served to make their efforts seem even more forced. The usually reliable Amy Sedaris, playing the role of Julie Schatz, was woefully underutilized, and even the usually reliable supporting cast, including Bradley Whitford as Peter Vance and Edward James Olmos as Captain Jack Cruz, couldn't elevate the film to anything resembling greatness.

What's most disappointing about 'Office Romance' is that it had the potential to be something truly special. Lopez, in particular, had been on a roll as of late, bringing her trademark wit and charm to every role she takes on. Here, though, she was saddled with a script that seemed to rely on cheap laughs and shallow character development rather than genuine storytelling. A romantic comedy should be funny, but it should also have heart, and 'Office Romance' fell woefully short in that regard.

The film's technical aspects, including the costumes designed by Caroline Duncan, were top-notch, but even the usually reliable Goldstein's suits couldn't bring this lackluster film to life. Lopez looked every inch the CEO she was meant to be, and her costumes were, as usual, stunning. But even she couldn't elevate this mess to anything resembling greatness.

All in all, 'Office Romance' is a major disappointment, a film that had all the makings of a great rom-com but ended up being a shallow, predictable mess. If you're looking for a truly great romantic comedy, look elsewhere. This one's a skip. And, honestly, I'm not sure what the screenwriters were thinking when they wrote this script. Maybe they thought that the more profanity they used, the more edgy the film would be. Newsflash: it doesn't work that way.

What's most disappointing about 'Office Romance' is that it represents a huge missed opportunity. With a talented cast and crew behind it, this film could have been something truly special. Instead, it's just another forgettable, overhyped Netflix original that fails to deliver. Don't waste your time or your money on this dud!

Author Mary Cox has been writing weekly movie reviews for The Edwardsville Intelligencer since 2010. She studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles and has worked with various directors and industry professionals in Los Angeles.