Finding a good rom-com to sink your teeth into has become an increasingly hard task despite the genre being beloved by many. With that in mind, Netflix have dusted off one of the most reliable names in the genre in Jennifer Lopez to star in their latest attempt to rediscover that rom-com magic. Starring alongside the talented Brett Goldstein, hopes were high that the magic may return. Sadly, that hope proves misplaced because despite the chemistry between the two stars, Office Romance tries far too hard to be funny, creating more than a few awkward moments where laughs are in desperately short supply.

Office Romance follows Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez), the CEO of Air Cruz, an American airline seeking to grow into a powerhouse. Those ambitions are thrown into jeopardy after a deal with Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is hit by a lawsuit from a rival airline CEO (Roger Bart). Up steps Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein), a suave British lawyer armed with the most stereotypical accent imaginable to save the day, if he can get past his intense feelings for Jackie that is.

As the attraction between the two naturally begins to simmer, Sydney (Betty Gilpin), Cruz’s assistant, tries to stop the relationship in its tracks. That’s despite the evident chemistry between Jackie and Daniel and even with the obvious hurdles they would face from their newfound relationship and the skeletons Daniel is hiding in his closet, the boss-employee barrier breaking down feels somewhat inevitable.

As well as starring in the movie, Brett Goldstein gets to show off his comedic prowess by scripting Office Romance and it’s clear from the get go that he has taken inspiration from the boundary pushing rom-coms of the 1990s and noughties. The problem is that balancing that style of comedy with the grounded workplace dynamics the film is aiming for becomes a challenge throughout, creating something of a tonal rollercoaster rather than fully leaning into the cheese.

That said, Office Romance does have some genuinely funny moments. Going down the route of an R-rated comedy proves to be one of the better decisions made, with one scene regarding the cultural divides of using c-bombs proving particularly amusing. That’s not to say the humour is flawless because there are plenty of moments where laughs are in short supply and a few jokes land with an almighty thud. When Office Romance misses, it misses badly, and there are stretches where it tries far too hard to be funny rather than letting the comedy come naturally.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of Office Romance is the Goldstein and Lopez relationship. Lopez is a seasoned veteran of the genre, so it should come as no surprise that she is able to conjure up chemistry with almost anyone on screen, but with Goldstein it feels particularly natural, allowing audiences to overlook some of the film’s more glaring flaws and enjoy their partnership. That said, whenever the pair are not sharing the screen together, the film becomes a little bit of a slog.

For the most part, the supporting cast is entirely forgettable outside of Betty Gilpin. As Jackie’s most trusted confidant, she is afforded the most screen time and makes the most of it with some quippy and cutting one-liners, mostly at Daniel’s expense. Beyond that, the remaining characters are never really fleshed out or given anything meaningful to do, instead falling into the trap of embodying every rom-com stereotype imaginable.

While it’s undoubtedly enjoyable to see Lopez back on screen in her tried and tested role as a rom-com queen alongside a comedic talent as strong as Brett Goldstein, Office Romance is ultimately a mixed bag. On one hand there’s some fun performances and undeniable chemistry. On the other, you’ve seen almost everything here before, the laughs are inconsistent, and it’s at least fifteen minutes too long for its own good. Still, as streaming movies go, it could certainly be a lot worse.