One Night Only Review: This High-Concept Rom-Com Is Everything You’d Want It To Be

The state of the romantic comedy has been well-covered in the past few years. A genre that had been a staple of Hollywood studio programming for decades became seen as a potential liability in theaters, along with plenty of other mid-budget movies for adults, and ended up mostly relegated to streaming. A few squeak through on occasion; some even do well enough for people to wonder whether things could change. But, for the most part, the closest we get are "stealth rom-coms," like 2024's The Fall Guy, that try to smuggle one genre in the packaging of another. These are mostly ill-advised attempts to appeal to both male and female demographics that end up leaving neither truly satisfied.

One Night Only might seem like one of those – after all, its premise boils down to "The Purge but for sex." I can assure you, it is not. This is an honest-to-goodness romantic comedy, with a high-concept twist that exists solely to service both the romance and the comedy. In fact, I'd argue that this film from director Will Gluck, whose runaway success with Anyone But You is probably the reason this movie exists as it does, is partially about the challenge of delivering a fully satisfying rom-com in this absurdly puritan (and increasingly dystopian) time.

Gluck, working from a Black List-winning script by Travis Braun, threads that needle beautifully. One Night Only is sexy, hilarious, and tremendously fun. It actually looks and feels like it was shot on location. It devotes just enough energy to its premise to be genuinely involving, and spends the rest of it ensuring its two leads become the kind of movie stars you can't help but swoon over. It's exactly what you'd hope a movie like this would be.

One Night Only's Premise Is More Than A Genre Gimmick

The world of One Night Only, which feels less like a near-future and more like a parallel reality that's a mere hop away, is three years into what's known colloquially as "the mandate." Sex between unmarried people is illegal in America. Everyone is fitted with a biosensor in their arm that resembles a small tattoo and is either green or red, depending on one's marital status – except on one night a year, when the mandate is lifted for twelve hours and, in true Purge fashion, everything descends into horny chaos.

Most people you cross paths with are just looking to get their year's worth out of this night, but our protagonists are different. Allie (Monica Barbaro), a singer who makes a living recording song parody ads for various medications, is tired of giving in to impulsive one-night stands that lead nowhere. She is determined to keep it in her pants this year, until she finds a connection that feels like it could be real. Owen (Callum Turner), who runs his own pizzeria, thinks he already has something real. He's hoping to make tonight extra special for his long-term girlfriend, Malika (Maya Hawke) – until she announces over dinner that she intends to sleep with their neighbor.

Going back to their apartment clearly isn't an option. Neither is sulking at his mom Linda's (Molly Ringwald) house, since she and Rick (LeVar Burton) intend to take full advantage of the mandate exemption. So, he has no choice but to go out and try for a quick rebound. Right away, he bumps into Allie, but an awkward exchange sends them both looking in other directions. They each go on their own wild journeys that, through sheer coincidence, just keep intersecting. And each time they meet, the pull between them gets a little bit stronger.

As with any fun genre movie, you're not really meant to think too hard about the mandate. That said, I think anyone looking for One Night Only to engage with the significance of a government ban on pre-marital sex will come away pleasantly surprised. The political questions don't go entirely unasked; some of the practical questions are even answered. But, more importantly, the filmmakers construct a societal atmosphere that feels shaped by this aspect of life. There is a contrast to the way that brands and businesses have leaned hard into this one night (scan every subway ad, you won't regret it) and how New York City and its people seem to buzz with resistance.

What should be most appreciated about the film's handling of this premise is that the script lets it be the root of every turn in the plotting. Each new hijink, each new obstacle for the characters to overcome, is rooted in some new wrinkle of post-mandate life. Aside from the joy of watching these two people circle each other, One Night Only's story is like a continual process of discovery, a common trait of near-future science fiction. Here, that feeling is constantly weaponized for laughs, with great results.

Monica Barbaro And Callum Turner Have Lights-Out Chemistry In One Night Only

But enough about the premise – let's get down to what really matters here. Romantic comedies have historically been a movie star proving ground because they live and die on the chemistry between their leads. On their own, Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro are already good-looking, charming screen presences. Together, the air between them crackles. One of the clever functions of this setup is that Allie especially is inclined to distrust snap-judgment attraction, and so, despite both of them clearly recognizing what's happening here, they resist. Their dance around the inevitable had me grinning from ear to ear.

Turner has an old-school leading-man energy that lends itself as well to movies like this as to period pieces like Masters of the Air, and I have nothing but appreciation for what he does with Owen. He's going for (and nails) "boyfriend material," with a physique that catches everyone's eye and a personality so sincere that it would be absurd to worry he's a player. But, for my money, One Night Only is Barbaro's movie. This role makes full use of her talents, and she takes advantage of every moment. If A Complete Unknown was her film breakout, this is proof positive that Barbaro is a true movie star.

I won't speculate whether One Night Only could bring rom-coms back. But it's at least concrete evidence that Hollywood hasn't forgotten how to do them right.

One Night Only releases in theaters nationwide on Friday, August 7.