One Night Only Review – High-Concept Romantic Comedy is Goofy and Fun

As soon as the first One Night Only trailer hit the internet, the jokes started flying. Almost all the jokes were all focused on the same general idea, that “It’s The Purge, but with premarital sex!” And the movie made itself an easy target. It’s an absurd, ridiculous premise. Jokes should be made, especially when the trailer gives almost zero additional information on the actual specifics of how this works. But if there’s a genre that can get away with it, it’s a romantic comedy. And One Night Only hits the beats it needs to hit. It’s a light-hearted fun time at the movies.

What is One Night Only about?

As alluded to, One Night Only takes place in a world where the United States has outlawed premarital sex, with the exception of one night each year, where the mandate is lifted for 12 hours. During this time, adults are allowed, encourage even, to let their freak flags fly. Those in relationships count down the seconds until they can race to the bedroom with their partner. Those that are single go party hopping, adventuring through town to find that special someone (or multiple someones), or simply a willing partner.

Owen (Callum Turner) is looking forward to spending the night with his girlfriend Malika (Maya Hawke). But when she tells him she wants to sleep with someone else this year, it sends him on a journey through New York City, where, by one coincidence after another, he keeps running into Allie (Monica Barbaro), who is looking for something more than just a warm body. She’s searching for true connection. Though resistant to give in to their obvious chemistry at first, fate might have other plans for them.

One Night Only review

Let’s get the big question out of the way first. What’s the whole deal with the “Sex is illegal for single people except for this one 12 hour period” law? How did it start? How does the government monitor it? Is all sex included in the law, or, and let’s not get too graphic here, is “other stuff” allowed? Is there a protest movement working to get the mandate reversed? The short answer that Travis Braun’s script provides is, “Who cares?”

The movie starts with a title card that the mandate was passed three years prior to the events of the movie. From there, the specifics are only explained as required by the story. Some questions have complete answers, other answers are hinted at or briefly acknowledged, and many, many, many questions are left completely alone.

To some, that may not matter. The premise is simply the engine to get the story started. It gives a basic framework for the character motivations and their decisions throughout the movie. The 12 hour period, for example, sets a firm deadline the characters have to work within. It adds a sense of urgency to everything they do. If they get distracted, or stranded, or have to run around the city looking for a condom, that’s precious time wasted.

That “all in one night” setting is almost a cheat code. Think of all the great movies that utilize it. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Superbad, Booksmart, Collateral, Dazed and Confused. The list goes on. One Night Only, is not on the level of any of those movies, but the point stands. And director Will Gluck uses that part of the premise to great effect.

The main difference here from most of the other one-nighters is that One Night Only has a definitive end point. Allie and Owen have from 7pm-7am. Whether with each other or someone else, it’s either going to happen or it’s not. With so much else being your standard rom-com, this was a nice touch to set itself apart.

And while One Night Only might have a more unique inciting incident, when it comes down to it, you still know exactly what you’re getting. That’s why the whole glossing over the Chastity Mandate aspect isn’t that big a deal. The specifics don’t matter in this story. If this is a big enough hit, maybe they’ll make a sequel, or even prequel, like the Purge series did with The First Purge, and address some of the other questions. For now, though, we know enough to know what’s at stake and how the characters are able to operate within this law. And that’s enough.

The rest is silly romantic comedy fun. Watching two beautiful, goofy people be beautiful and goofy, as they adventure through New York City, getting into ridiculous situation after ridiculous situation. It’s cute, it’s funny, it’s touching. What’s not to like? Will One Night Only join the pantheon of the greatest films of all time, or even the greatest romantic comedies? No, definitely not, but it doesn’t need to. Gluck and Braun knew the movie they wanted to make, and they made it.

Could they have gone deeper into the government overreach of passing a law like this? And the hormone tracking necessary to track and enforce said law? Sure, but you do that and all of a sudden, this becomes a very different movie. But then you’ve got an overstuffed movie likely pushing well past two hours, if you want to give everything adequate time and attention.

Monica Barbaro in One Night Only/Universal Pictures

Even though it doesn’t explore those specific themes, that’s not to say it’s completely empty of any deeper messaging. The big one being how important human connection is and how we choose to connect with each other. Is sex truly a critical aspect of that, or is it simply the way people have evolved to seek out that connection? And if not through sex, how else can we go about finding it? And then from there, maybe sex isn’t really all that important, aside from having children?

That’s one way you can see Congress gaining momentum for passing legislation like this. They take one coherently made argument, mixing in some actual sound reasoning (Who doesn’t want fewer teen pregnancies? Obviously lower STD rates would be a good thing) and use that to twist and mask the true intent behind it to gain public support. You can see how it progresses.

But One Night Only is not equipped to go down that path, at least not this version of it. So let’s leave that for the hypothetical sequel. If Gluck wants to go deeper into the “how” of this all, there is a decent starting point for how members of Congress could get the ball rolling on passing legislature like this.

Like Gluck’s last feature, box office hit Anyone But You, One Night Only relies heavily on its two leads’ chemistry and otherworldy looks. Some movies, romantic comedies especially, can get away with more if their leads simply work well together on screen and look good while doing it. Check and check.

While she has quickly proven to be a talented and versatile actor, Monica Barbaro is made for romantic comedies. She could make one of these each year for the next thirty years and still have time for more complex and challenging roles. I’m not as sold yet on Turner as a true leading man. But if he has someone strong with him, like Barbaro here or Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller in 2025’s Eternity, he’s more than capable.

Gluck also brought together a strong supporting cast, with several characters getting the chance to give Barbaro and Turner quick breaks from carrying the film. Just to name a few, King Princess, Ben Marshall, Nicholas Braun, and Mike Birbiglia all have small but memorable roles. But it’s Molly Ringwald and LeVar Burton as Owen’s mom Linda and her boyfriend Rick who almost steal the movie from Barbaro and Turner. Those two, Burton in particular, provide some of the biggest laughs.

Is One Night Only worth watching?

Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner in One Night Only/Universal Pictures

There’s something to be said for a movie setting out to be exactly what it’s meant to be, nothing more, nothing less. And that’s One Night Only. While it’s an admittedly insane premise, it still offers all the familiar comforts of any good romantic comedy. And sometimes that’s all you need.

One Night Only releases in theaters Friday, August 7.

One Night Only Review – High-Concept Romantic Comedy is Goofy and Fun