By George & Josh Bate
The Purge posited a world in which, for a single night per year, all crime was made legal. One Night Only posits a world in which, for a single night per year, premarital sex is legal. It’s a clever high concept, one that sets the stage for an inventive, fun, strange, and often unintentionally funny rom-com that will remind audiences why date movies deserve to be seen on the big screen.
One Night Only takes place in a fictionalized society in which sex is outlawed for single people 364 days a year. For a strict 12-hour window on a single day of the year, unmarried folks are legally allowed to have sex, creating a massive sense of urgency and mad scramble to find a mate. On this fateful night of the year, recently dumped Owen (Callum Turner) and hopeful romantic Allie (Monica Barbaro) repeatedly cross paths and are simultaneously drawn to and put off by one another.
The unique premise of One Night Only is far more than just a jumping off point for yet another rom-com. Director Will Gluck and screenwriter Travis Braun integrates the concept of “The Mandate,” the law in place that bans premarital sex for all but 12 hours out of the year, into virtually every scene and every moment of their briskly paced, ever-moving film. Given the genre of choice and intended crowd-pleasing nature of the tone, the film doesn’t get into all the intricate sociopolitical and psychological implications such a mandate would have on society, but all that is for another, decidedly less fun movie.
One Night Only surprises with just how well-developed its world building surrounding “The Mandate” is. Everything from a sudden surge in demand for condoms to news reports that offer a glimpse into the political landscape that led to such a fascistic law not only imbue the movie with a frivolous tone, but they provoke thoughts about the implications such a mandate would have if unfolded in real life.
With a novel concept for a rom-com underlying its every moment, One Night Only entertains, albeit likely unintentionally, through the sheer awkwardness of leading man Callum Turner. The English actor known for his roles in Eternity and Masters of the Air certainly looks the part of a strapping male rom-com lead, although his performance is anything but conventional. From uncomfortable body language to forced mannerisms to a stilted American accent, Turner makes for such an unusual screen presence, which gives way to ample laughs and cringe-worthy moments. Perhaps the best way to describe Turner’s performance is that it will probably remind you of your awkward friend or relative when they are placed in a social setting they are clearly uncomfortable in, yet do their best to appear unphased and normal. Indeed, it seems as if Turner’s efforts primarily go to appearing as normal and assimilated as possible, which obviously lead him to feel abnormal and out of place.
While at times pulling one out of the movie, Turner’s uncomfortable performance adds a layer of charm to the proceedings. A more conventional rom-com male lead may have made the feel feel too dry, but coupling its high concept with a strange central performance somehow makes for a solid fit.
Monica Barbaro, meanwhile, feels far more comfortable in her role as the woman who repeatedly crosses paths with Turner’s Owen. Barbaro sells the simultaneous annoyance and allure toward Owen well, in turn making the film’s final and extraordinarily predictable destination seem earned.
Turner and Barbaro don’t always share the most electric of chemistries, although this is part of the unusual charm of One Night Only. Come the end of the film, it is difficult to not get wrapped up in how bizarrely endearing their romance is and root for the two to finally get together.
Unintentional humor spawning from Turner’s performance aside, Gluck’s film largely misfires with its sense of humor. Most of the jokes don’t land, especially as many of these gags come from an overreliance on ill-fitting cameo appearances. Make no mistake, One Night Only is a funny watch, albeit not funny in the way intended by the filmmakers.
VERDICT: 6/10
One Night Only cleverly puts a rom-com spin on The Purge to lay the foundation for a strange, endearing, and funny (albeit unintentionally so) date night movie. Director Will Gluck and screenwriter Travis Braun surprisingly explore the ‘sex is only legal on one night per year’ concept with interesting depth, imbuing their film with unexpectedly fascinating world-building. The novelty of the high concept premise is coupled by a bizarre, awkward, and inadvertently hilarious lead performance from Callum Turner, whose turn in the film can be best compared to that of your socially awkward friend or relative who tries to act normal in a social situation, only to appear decidedly out-of-place. While at times pulling out of the movie, Turner’s uncomfortable screen presence adds charm and an additional layer of novelty to the film, while Monica Barbaro feels far more comfortable and authentically sells the simultaneous annoyance and allure toward Turner’s character. Unintentional humor aside, however, One Night Only misses the mark with its range of jokes, despite featuring clever ideas like a mad rush on condoms on the one night a year that premarital sex is permitted. Most of the intended jokes don’t land and many of these gags are marred by an overreliance on distracting, ill-fitting cameo appearances. Undoubtedly flawed yet bafflingly enthralling, Gluck’s latest rom-com is destined to entertain with how unusual it all is and will remind audiences why date night movies deserve seeing on the big screen.