One Night Only
Dir: Will Gluck. Stars: Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner
Imagine a New York where singles are mandated to only have sex one night a year. For the vast majority it’s nightmarish. For Ally (Monica Barbaro) and Owen (Callum Turner) it’s reality.
The comic dystopian-like of One Night Only is the newest addition to Will Gluck’s Rom/Com repertoire. In a future that may not seem too far away, Gluck explores the journey of two young hopefuls looking for something that may last more than just one night.
Ally (Monica Barbaro) sets out adamant that she’ll only settle for a true connection, while Owen (Callum Turner), who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, resorts back to dating apps and flirting with bar tenders so as not to waste his night. In a series of almost unbelievable but hilarious events their paths continue to cross over the course of the night.
The unpredictable events of the film are paired with a cheeky, immersive soundtrack that guides audiences through an exciting tour of New York’s rowdy nightlife.
Barbaro showcases her musical talent, previously highlighted in her role as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown (2024). Her chemistry with co-star Turner is electric during their romantic scenes and yet it is the comedic compatibility that makes the pairing shine.
Turner’s character Owen plays into his obvious good looks in a self-deprecating way. Audiences should be on the lookout for the various celebrity cameos.
Following the world-wide success of his 2023 film Anyone But You, Gluck has ensured that his latest flick measures up nicely. His premise behind One Night Only is as original as it gets, and yet familiar genre conventions ground the futuristic film in a way that a fun cinema experience. Placing a mandate on an individual’s sex life may seem farfetched, but Gluck has cleverly reflected some of the fears floating around our current political climate. The film doesn’t become too caught up in the pros and cons of the mandate, instead it relies on its characters to explore how society learns to navigate in the face of something new.
Despite the success radiating from films such as Upgraded (2024), No Hard Feelings (2023) and 2026’s Finding Emily, audiences remain under the illusion that the rom-com is a genre waiting for revival. Gluck is once again disproving this notion. New rom-com’s have been filtering in through streaming services for quite some time, but viewing the highs and lows of modern relationships on a cinematic scale shouldn’t be so quicky bypassed.
If you’re looking for night where laughter is a given, or you have an allocated date night that comes around once a year, One Night Only might just be for you.
Ainsley Mura