Office Romance (1977)

Anatoly Yefremovich is a lowly office drone, unsatisfied with his current position. He wants to ask the firm's frumpy and mean boss for a promotion befitting his talents, but can't muster up the initiative. A friend suggests he try wooing Miss Kalugina, and butter her up. This attempt fails, leading to a drunk Anatoly to angrily chew her out. Fully expecting to be fired, if not killed, he sees the next day a much different Kalugina, and a romance soon forms between them. Though not without troubles...

Office Romance is a delightfully funny romantic-comedy from Russia. The story is a great one, with many typical ideas and elements, presented in a very entertaining way. The setup is similar to The Proposal (the Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds film). Obviously different in just about every way, but it shares the idea of a 'lowly' office worker coming to realise his 'evil boss from hell' isn't so so heartless as he thinks. It's a favourite trope of mine!

While it came from Soviet Russia in the midst of the Cold War, Office Romance shows just how similar stories can be. East and West may have their vast differences, but when it comes to rom-coms they are all alike, in the best ways. The film is a good window into everyday life at the time. There are a few amusing Russian-isms though, like their insistence on saying first and middle names at all times (and they're so long too!). This may confuse some viewers, but that's the worst of it.

The dialogue is great, with lots of funny moments, witty lines, and great scenarios. I liked how the pair's interactions would mirror each-other. There is all your expected drama here too, complete with a third act break-up. The ending is enjoyable and satisfying, though a little abrupt.

The subplot is mixed. It's sadder and more serious, with Olya making a complete fool of herself. It did bum me out a little, but its inclusion is good. Having a subplot is nice to break things up, as well as give focus to other characters. Poor Olya would have nothing else to do outside of this storyline.

Anatoly Yefremovich Novoseltsev (Tolya) is a good lead. He's a likeable fellow, very meek and quiet, but can raise hell if you get him drunk or angry enough. Him being a single father makes him sympathetic, and his wife having left him is also interesting. It feels less cloying than if she had tragically died (not to criticise that trope, but we do see it a lot more).

Ludmila Prokofievna Kalugina is likewise great. She's believably mean, and earns the reputation her employees bestow upon her. But she also has a hidden sensitive side, which Tolya sees when she breaks down in tears in front of him as he tries to apologise. They have a big heart-to-heart, and we get a great insight to her character. She's fleshed out very well, and is extremely relateable.

Together they make a great couple. Their personalities mix and clash well, and the duo share great chemistry, both in the angry and romantic scenes.

Olya (Olga Petrovna) is likeable enough by herself, and it's nice that Tolya's best friend is female! Where she falters as a character is her unrequited love for Yuri. All of a sudden she is desperate and pathetic. In a believably written way, though she's not fun to watch.

Yuri (Grigoryevich Samokhvalov) is the resident asshole of the film. Surprisingly though he's never treated that badly. He's a bit of a braggart, but is happily married, never strings Olya on and is always firmly [dismissive] with her affections. Although intending to release her letters was a poor move, and his actions towards Tolya at the climax are bad.

The rest of the office staff are an amusing bunch, from the chatty and helpful secretary Vera, to the do-gooder work activist Shura, who's always the head of a new committee, and raising money for every local cause under the sun. She's a fun presence, and has a small part to play in the main story, although she never really gets an ending (unless you consider being banished to spend her time actually working an ending).

The cast do a great job. Andrey Myagkov and Alisa Freindlich are fantastic leads. They are also very natural. They look like real people, and not like young airbrushed models. I especially dig Alisa's short hairstyle, which she rocks! Oleg Basilashvili is not overstated as the slightly smug Yuri. Svetlana Nemolyayeva delivers a more tragic performance, to an effective degree. On the flip side, Lya Akhedzhakova and Lyudmila Ivanova are great comedic actors.

The music here is neat, with a fun main theme. Also present are musical interludes, which are nice (if a bit melancholy at times), and do a nice job at showing the passing of time.

With all these good qualities, does Office Romance have any flaws? For the most part, no, but there is one element that's bound to get on some people's nerves-The runtime! This film is 157 minutes. Not an hour and 57 minutes, but 157! Dam near 3 hours! It's a good movie, it's never boring, and always commands your attention, but it really didn't need to be that long. The film waffles on a bit with some scenes, and you can easily see which scenes could be trimmed or cut altogether. They wouldn't even change the script! This same script could fit in a much shorter film.

Office Romance is still widely beloved as one of Russia's greatest movies, and for good reason. It got a modernised remake in 2011, and how well it fares depends on who you ask. Predictably everyone in it looks like a young supermodel, in stark contrast wit the original, but, it's only 87 minutes! From 2 and a half hours to not only 90, but 87! Now that's what I call an improvement. Maybe I'll watch it someday, and it may even be halfway decent. But its gargantuan length aside, I have no doubt the original will still be the best...