“One Night Only,” a new Universal Pictures release starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, is now in theaters. Directed by Will Gluck, the film presents a dystopian premise described as “The Purge” for sex or Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” for one-night stands. The movie quickly establishes a U.S. government mandate that makes premarital sex illegal, with the exception of one annual 12-hour reprieve. This restriction has been in place for three years, with opening title cards declaring, “It’s been a lot.”
While this high-concept script from Travis Braun naturally prompts questions about its practical enforcement, “One Night Only” is noted to be less interested in exploring the bizarre ramifications of its dystopian concept. Instead, the film focuses on delivering a surprisingly tame romantic tale. Though initially dressed as a raunchy sex comedy, it is described as a chaste rom-com at its heart, leading to its characterization as a “disappointingly denuded comedy without the gumption to interrogate its satirical gimmick.”
Despite these narrative choices, the film's charming leads, Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, are credited with keeping “One Night Only” pleasantly watchable. The movie is an especially welcome showcase for Barbaro, who has notably stood out in male-dominated ensembles such as “Top Gun: Maverick.” Her role in “One Night Only” is highlighted as one that proves her “lead-actor incandescence.” Turner, a British actor, also continues his rom-com appearances, having featured in last year’s “Eternity.”
The story follows Owen (Turner), a Manhattan pizzeria owner whose engagement plans are thwarted. Allie (Barbaro), a single singer performing pharmaceutical jingles, is coaxed by friends to go out. Both are portrayed as romantics on a night intended for casual encounters. They meet and spend the night traversing New York, facing nightclub escapades and condom shortages. The script's cleverest parody is identified not as “conservative political intervention in private sex lives,” but rather a “swipe-right sex culture” where old-fashioned romance is scarce. However, the film, populated by product placement ads from brands like Durex to K-Y, is noted to suggest little “particularly sincere.”
“One Night Only” is observed to constantly narrow its possibilities. One character's early comment notes that the night belongs to heterosexual individuals because gay individuals had long found ways to bypass repressive restrictions. Instead of broadening its satire, Gluck’s film takes a throwback turn, culminating atop a New York landmark. Ultimately, the film is not considered bawdy or trenchant enough for its concept, nor sweet enough for its romance. It is deemed more successful as a meta comedy about charismatic Hollywood stars reckoning with their onscreen sex appeal, featuring cameos from Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, and Pete Davidson. Barbaro and Turner are said to have little to worry about regarding their charm. The film is rated R and runs for 102 minutes.
