About the film (courtesy of Universal Pictures):
Recently dumped Owen (Callum Turner) and hopeful romantic Allie (Monica Barbaro) might be the only two singles in the city looking for more than just a quick encounter. They both feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests complicate their night, keeping them apart. As they each race toward and away from each other across the city, they just might discover that the one thing they want most is closer than they think.
Will Gluck’s One Night Only is essentially what would happen if a rom-com took place in the same universe as The Purge (2013), given how unorthodox the government’s policies and overreach get. The film takes place in a dystopian United States where, three years ago, a conservative mandate banned and outlawed premarital sex on a national level in an attempt to force traditional marriages. Except for… August 7th (which not so coincidentally happens to be the day that the movie is released in theaters).
Led by Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro, One Night Only plays out in a quirky and fun way that takes time to actually build up and get momentum behind it, ultimately working best as a satire about trying to navigate a tech controlled surveillance state that is simultaneously sex-starved and sex-crazed.
To enforce this outlandish law, the world-building leans heavily into sci-fi dystopian absurdity. At eighteen, citizens receive a mandated tattoo containing a biometric sensor. This device tracks dopamine spikes and a few other related chemical reactions, documents them as sexual encounters, and immediately transmits the violator’s location to law enforcement. The sheer ridiculousness of this premise requires audiences to suspend their understandable amount of disbelief. Instead, Gluck uses this high-stakes backdrop as a cheeky runway for a “one crazy night” adventure, prioritizing comedy and absurdity over biting political commentary which it does occasionally dance around with in off handed jokes.
One Night Only centers around Callum’s character, Owen, and Monica’s Allie, who both try to find a way to enjoy their one night of restrictio0n free fun. Owen, a pizza shop owner, finds himself unexpectedly single for the evening when his long term girlfriend, played by Maya Hawke, suggests they take a break so she can sleep with other people.
Meanwhile, Allie is a commercial jingle singer and a dogged romantic who is tired of being ghosted. While everyone else around her is desperately seeking a quick hookup, she is stubbornly determined to find a real, emotional connection. Left to their own devices in a manic New York City, the two keep accidentally running into each other outside apartments, at bodegas, and even inside a police station.
Despite initially deciding they don’t want to sleep with each other, Allie and Owen team up to help one another find the perfect one-night stand before the twelve-hour window closes. This is where One Night Only truly finds its footing. Turner and Barbaro share an undeniably natural chemistry that elevates the script’s more uneven moments. Turner brings a street-smart, good-guy decency, while Barbaro channels the effervescent charm of a classic screwball heroine. Their dynamic provides a welcome sense of equality that anchors the movie even when its internal logic falters or its character motivations feel slightly ill-defined.
While One Night Only might suffer from a bit of thematic timidity and is oddly tame for a film entirely centered around the pursuit of sex it remains a highly endearing ride. It may not be a cinematic masterpiece that lingers in your mind forever, but as a breezy, one-night watch, it hits the spot.
