Hallmark's Return to Office Review and Plot Summary

Hallmark’s ‘Return to Office’ is a film about a workplace romance that finds its footing as an anonymous flirtation. An acquisition between two companies opens the door for in-office work in previously work-from-home companies. Consequently, the employees return to the office on a hybrid schedule, requiring them to share their workspace with a second batch on alternating shifts. Consequently, Liv—a Type A corporate hard worker—finds herself sharing a desk with Tom—the artist who isn’t used to being bossed around. Inevitably, the two end up anonymously passing notes between each other, signing them off as simply as Ms Monday and Mr Tuesday. However, they never expected to actually fall for the person on the other side of the sticky notes! Despite the seemingly straightforward nature of the premise, Liv and Tom’s love story remains ripe with complications once overbearing bosses, headbutting projects, and meddling families are added to the equation!

Return to Office Charts the Path to Cute Workplace Courting

‘Return to Office’ finds its footing in a strangers-to-lovers premise where an initial attraction is established over sticky notes and pastry peace offerings. This paves the way for an endearing connection between the two main leads despite them rarely sharing the screen together. Once this relationship of reluctant deskmates turned enthusiast pen pals is set between Ms Monday and Mr Tuesday, a new dynamic enters. Now, as Liv and Tom meet in person, they’re handed the reins over a stirring project that allows space for some gritty corporate push and pull within their connection. Consequently, the film efficiently sets up a captivating chemistry in its first half, inviting the audience to get swept up in Liv and Tom’s whirlwind romance.

The story further defines itself from there, as it adds other—surprisingly thorough—plot points and conflicts to the narrative. As a result, there’s a sense of real emotional and pragmatic stakes that keep Liv and Tom’s story from going stale as it repeatedly goes up and down a complicated rollercoaster ride. In doing so, the narrative also finds the opportunity to establish some real-life relevant storytelling threads about generative AI and their forced involvement in creative spaces. Yet, this theme fits into the overarching storyline with ease, leaving no space for didactic preaching. Overall, the audience may hold a gripe about the convoluted route Liv and Tom’s romance takes to arrive at its eventual happy ending. However, the constant will-they-won’t-they remains a significant part of the appeal in the office lovebird’s love story.

Return to Office Plot Summary

As Omega Technologies acquires the start-up Artist Axis, chairman Walter gears up for a return to in-office work with his employees. Yet, due to the shortage of desk space in his office, he has to come up with a hybrid schedule in which employees will alternate in-office days during the work week. Naturally, this new change becomes a nightmare for Liv, who has perfected her workspace and daily routine in her home. Similarly, it also throws a curveball for Tom, an original Artist Axis designer who has never really worked in a corporate setting with bosses looming over his shoulder. Alas, both of them have no choice but to comply. Thus, Liv shows up for work on a Monday and lets fate decide her desk for her. In an effort to spruce up her workspace, she leaves out a few knickknacks—including a small succulent.

Although Liv packs up her other stuff at the end of the workday, she leaves the succulent on the desk with a note to her deskmate, signed as Ms Monday. The next day, Tom ends up at the same desk, setting up the stage for their acquaintance by passing notes. Even though they start off on the wrong foot due to Tom’s messiness and Liv’s need for order, they eventually begin a tentative friendship. As such, with each passing day, their handwritten notes get longer and perhaps even more flirtier. Yet, they decide to keep their identities a secret to preserve the harmless ease of their Ms Monday and Mr Tuesday personas. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean their path never cross in the office for other reasons.

During a joint team meeting, Walter favors Liv’s idea to change the Artist Axis logo to better fit its osmosis into Omega Technologies. Even though this proposal blindsides Tom as the head designer, he agrees to help lead the project from the artistic perspective. As a result, the duo begin getting to know each other in a more professional setting, oblivious to their identities as each other’s anonymous pen pals. Their lives further intersect when Tom’s mother, Judy, moves into a nursing home, which coincidentally houses Liv as a frequent volunteer. Eventually, Mr Tuesday and Ms Monday’s correspondence—now shifted to texting—becomes serious enough for Tom to propose the idea of an in-person meeting.

Although Liv is initially excited about the date, that excitement dims a bit when her friendship with Judy makes her realize that her son—Tom—is actually Mr Tuesday. The revelation leaves her uncertain about her decision to attend the in-person meeting because she’s scared Tom won’t be pleased to find that his flawed project manager is also his charming pen pal. Her fears are particularly reinforced after their logo proposal to Walter goes sour, and she’s forced to bow down to her boss’ whims, inviting the designer’s judgment. For the same reason, she ultimately decides to postpone the meeting and continues to keep her identity a secret. Yet, in the aftermath, she also tries to stage situations for Tom to get to know her better as Liv and maybe see her more positive qualities.

Liv’s plan ends up working a little too well, compelling Tom to think he’s fallen for two different women who just happen to have similar personalities. Eventually, things get out of hand when Walter decides he’s going to use an AI-generated logo over Tom’s better, more impressive design. This pushes the designer to quit his job on the spot, while Liv is left to try and salvage the situation. Nevertheless, once she realizes that her boss intends to completely get rid of the creative designer team to use generative AI as a cheaper alternative, she inevitably quits as well.

Still, since Tom remains distant from Liv, displeased with her lack of support for him in front of Walter, the duo remain out of each other’s orbit. That is until the woman finally reaches out to him as Ms Monday to set up a dinner date. Simultaneously, Judy subtly helps Tom realize his error in judging Liv too harshly for simply doing her job. Therefore, the pair’s second attempt at a dinner date goes significantly better. Liv reveals her true identity—something Tom is all too pleased by since he had steadily fallen in love with both her and Ms Monday. Ultimately, the pair come together and even decide to undertake a joint business venture, realizing that they’re always better together.