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“Office Romance” reaches back to the golden age of 2000s romantic comedies, pairing a forbidden workplace relationship with the charm, humor and predictability that made the genre so memorable.

Released June 6 and directed by veteran rom-com filmmaker Ol Parker, the movie balances wholesome moments with light comedy as its central relationship moves from professional tension to romance.

Jennifer Lopez stars as Jacqueline Cruz, while Brett Goldstein plays Daniel Blanchflower. Goldstein co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Kelly, and the pair created the role of Cruz specifically for Lopez. They reportedly considered her so essential that the project would have been abandoned without her.

Cruz is far from the genre’s traditional damsel in distress. She serves as president and CEO of Air Cruz, a growing airline founded by her father. Successful, independent and outwardly guarded, she nevertheless faces board members who dismiss her achievements and see her primarily as the founder’s daughter.

That struggle gives the film a modern edge, reflecting how women in powerful positions can still be undermined and belittled in the workplace.

The romance itself relies on familiar conventions. Cruz and Blanchflower share an immediate connection, but their status as coworkers keeps either from acting on it. Air Cruz’s strict zero-tolerance policy toward workplace relationships raises the stakes as they continue spending time together.

As Blanchflower gets closer to Cruz, the seemingly cold workaholic reveals a more vulnerable and playful side. Lopez and Goldstein bring enough warmth to those scenes to make the attraction feel natural, while the characters’ enemies-to-lovers dynamic sustains the tension.

The story is predictable and sometimes unrealistic, with a few deliberately awkward moments along the way. Yet those qualities ultimately strengthen its throwback appeal. For viewers longing for the easy charm and comedy of an old-school rom-com, “Office Romance” delivers a welcome return to form.