One Night Only Review: Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner Sparkle in a Rom-Com Sweeter and Sexier Than Its Contrived Script Deserves

In Will Gluck’s recent rom-com, “One Night Only”, two young lovers, Allie and Owen, navigate a bizarre societal construct where unmarried individuals are forbidden from engaging in intimate relations, except for one 12-hour reprieve each year. The film presents a sanitized, whimsical vision of New York City, where even the most pressing concerns are treated with a lighthearted, comedic spin.

The city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community is woefully underrepresented, with only a handful of queer characters sprinkled throughout the narrative. This oversight raises important questions about the film’s portrayal of a citywide chastity edict and its implications for those who don’t conform. The script fails to explore these issues in depth, suggesting that Gluck’s true intent lies not in social commentary but in providing a convenient vehicle for shallow romantic comedy.

The pairing of Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner is indeed charming, but it can’t compensate for the script’s numerous shortcomings. The characters’ motivations are paper-thin, with their relationships driven by contrived obstacles rather than genuine emotional depth. The film’s portrayal of a citywide chastity edict is similarly superficial, glossing over the very real consequences such a policy would entail.

It’s striking to consider how this fictional world might be viewed through the lens of our own reality. In recent years, we’ve witnessed a resurgence in conservative values and a growing emphasis on “family-friendly” entertainment. The notion of a nationwide veto on premarital sex may seem far-fetched, but it’s not entirely impossible. Given the current climate, it’s tempting to imagine a future where the state exercises increasingly stringent control over citizens’ private lives.

Gluck’s film is an oddity in this regard, eschewing any meaningful exploration of these themes in favor of lighthearted, crowd-pleasing entertainment. This decision raises questions about the role of art in reflecting and shaping societal attitudes. Can a film like “One Night Only” truly be said to challenge the status quo when it so neatly sidesteps the most pressing issues at its core?

The film’s refusal to engage with the implications of its premise inadvertently reinforces the notion that sex is something to be regulated and controlled, a sentiment echoed in our own society where conservative values are increasingly being promoted as the norm. Gluck’s direction raises more questions than answers, leaving viewers to ponder what this fictional world tells us about our own.

As the credits roll on “One Night Only”, one can’t help but wonder what other narratives are simmering just beneath the surface of this supposedly liberated world. What happens when the clock strikes midnight and the city is once again plunged into a state of enforced chastity? The film may not provide answers to these questions, but it does offer a tantalizing glimpse into a puritanical utopia that’s all too familiar in its echoes of our own troubled times.

In recent years, we’ve seen a growing emphasis on “family-friendly” entertainment, and the notion of a nationwide veto on premarital sex is not entirely impossible. The city’s underrepresentation of its vibrant LGBTQ+ community only adds to the film’s shortcomings. Gluck’s decision to focus on lighthearted, crowd-pleasing entertainment rather than exploring the more uncomfortable aspects of his premise is a curious one.

Ultimately, “One Night Only” is a rom-com that sparkles with charm but falls flat due to its contrived script and lack of meaningful exploration. The pairing of Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner may be delightful, but it can’t compensate for the film’s numerous shortcomings. As the credits roll, viewers are left to ponder what this fictional world tells us about our own, and whether art should reflect or challenge societal attitudes.