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There are concepts that feel dodgy right out of the gate, and the premise for Will Gluck's "One Night Only" falls into that category. The idea that it's illegal to have sex if you're single is already one that exists in reality for queer people in plenty of places right now. So if you're going to make that the cornerstone of your entire film, you had better be willing to engage with the seriousness of what that means for real. Instead, this movie uses this fascistic setup for a cutesy rom-com that is itself a disappointment.
Owen (Callum Turner) has been looking forward to the one night when The Mandate is lifted for 12 hours and he and his girlfriend, Malika (Maya Hawke), can finally have sex. Meanwhile, Allie (Monica Barbaro) is looking for someone that she has a real connection with, unlike most singles who just want to get some during the one window a year. However, the night goes awry for both of them, leading to one missed opportunity after another, with a bevy of potential lovers, as well as with each other.
I'll start with the less problematic, but still uninteresting, romantic story between Owen and Allie in "One Night Only." Their meet-cute is decidedly not cute, but ultimately still works for the purpose of them meeting. But for the bulk of the movie, they are not together because they are trying to fulfill their goals for the night. And because their goals do not include getting together, it hinders the growth of their chemistry beyond mere good looks. Turner and Barbaro are both talented actors, but they are given crumbs to work with in Travis Braun's script.
All of that aside, it is impossible to ignore the premise, and it takes what is already a mediocre rom-com and makes it nearly unwatchable. There are places right now where it is already illegal for gay people to have sex, and some where it is punishable by death. There is a passing acknowledgment of this reality, but it is minimal, and it is treated exclusively as a hindrance to our couple getting together, rather than as the absolute nightmare that it is. I think there are ways to still have something sweet and funny in the midst of the horrors, but ignoring the many violations of human and privacy rights feels intentionally tone deaf.
That's disappointing, because there are elements in "One Night Only" that can work. There are a lot of gags that are truly funny. The film is filled with fantastic cameos (Glen Powell and Mike Birbiglia were two of my favorites). The leads have potential. There are ways this could be done that could flip this from one of my least favorite movies of the year to one of my favorites.
People have had to overcome horrific circumstances to be together, and they have done it while finding humor. It's not an impossible situation. But in order for a high-concept movie like "One Night Only" to work, it has to be willing to be bold and actually engage with the scenario it's setting up. This one doesn't, making it a bust on all fronts.
Alise Chaffins is a freelance and Tomatometer-approved film critic.