“One Night Only” follows recently dumped Owen and hopeful romantic Allie, who race toward and away from each other across the city on the one night of the year when single people are allowed to have sex.
If there was ever a movie that had the potential to be both hilarious and timely, it was “One Night Only.” If you’re catching that I’m writing in past tense, it’s because, well… it wasn’t.
Despite only having a 102-minute runtime, this feels like it’s pushing well past two hours. This is because Travis Braun’s screenplay is all over the place. With two converging storylines, the majority of the film is spent following Owen and Allie’s individual journeys — while constantly finding ways to bump into each other. As craziness ensues, viewers will likely find themselves waiting for the punchline (or deeper meaning); there isn’t one.
“One Night Only” has the concept. The execution feels more like a collection of pop music videos than a cohesive film. With each new scene, there is a new “trendy” song pulled from the soundtrack. This leaves Este Haim and Christopher Stracey’s score in the dust, outside of a recurring melody that plays practically every time Owen and Allie meet.
It’s also a string of advertisements. Most fittingly are Durex and K-Y Jelly, but Duolingo, Citi Bike, Equinox and many others are present as well. Don’t forget the cameos, either. With familiar faces and brand placements often stealing the spotlight, “One Night Only” never maintains focus.
With a concept as raunchy as this, you would expect humor, and lots of it. Unfortunately, director Will Gluck has a juvenile approach to the comedy that prohibits it from delivering laughs on a consistent basis. It’s inherently hilarious seeing sex-craved individuals sprint for the bedroom, but outside of that basic idea, there aren’t many laughs (or even chuckles) to be had.
In a modern age where dating has become superficial (and a future where premarital sex is banned), the film has room to deliver commentary. And it does… maybe for five minutes total. Even when Gluck does inject political statements, they’re surface-level and largely outdated. There are pieces of backstory and worldbuilding, but no logistics come along with it. This is another missed opportunity, seemingly abandoning younger audiences in favor of being a generic rom (minus the com). This is especially evident in the final act. Rather than subverting expectations, “One Night Only” goes in the safest possible direction. Since there’s nothing offered to ponder after the credits roll, the aimless trek to get there is rendered almost pointless.
The visuals are just as bland as the story itself. Director of photography Yaron Orbach gives the imagery life as characters sprint through the streets of New York City, but generally, locations feel lifeless. The lighting is dull and the camerawork remains still, leaving what should be the most eccentric night of the year feeling like the most plain.
The charm of Callum Turner (Owen) and Monica Barbaro (Allie) helps to alleviate some of these shortcomings. Turner plays the “nice guy” role well, bringing both awkwardness and charisma to the screen. Barbaro’s character is more shy, with small quirks that will likely make her relatable to many. While the movie has a tendency to force-feed their romance, the pair does make the chemistry feel real. Also appearing are Maya Hawke (Malika), Molly Ringwald (Linda), LeVar Burton (Rick) and many more. Burton is a standout despite his limited screentime, delivering some of the only comedy that sticks.
It’s like “The Purge,” but for sex. Unfortunately, even that franchise has more to say than “One Night Only.”
Rating: 1.5 out of 5
