One Night Only – Movie Reviews by Ry!

One Night Only – From Love to Exceptions … Rules Don’t Apply

From the ominous to the fickle, the aspect of living for another becomes a complex mirror of what is truly there.  Trying to find the meaning to ‘what is love’ becomes a crossroads of unique situations … but a place where stories can flourish.  Upon this path are signs of gripping emotions that pull with feelings of wonderment.  For film, to pull upon those heartstrings is one thing, but making the journey worth your time is another.  In this review, I look at the latest rom com to hit the big screen.  From a unique premise, we head upon a path where fate and predictability become one in the same.  Even with its own clichés, One Night Only is a fun journey that provides a unique take on what it means to truly bond.

In a world where hooking up is outlawed except for one night, two individuals will find out that a bond is much more than a law-abiding situation.  Romance (in film) is a threading cliché that pulls you into a tale where the obvious can feel great, but also unnatural.  From teenage rom coms to the heartfelt star-cross journeys, the aspect of ‘been there/done that’ is a staple of the genre.  Even within its typical nature, there are times that bending the foundation (a bit) can provide a different perspective of what love can be.  With this film, it threads the typical with a unique setting that makes it become a bit more than a common love story.  In the beginning, we are introduced to a world where sex has been outlawed, unless you are married.  With this law comes one exception … for one night only, the ban is lifted and people can embark on pleasures with another.  Once we move past this unique foundational element, we meet our main characters: Owen (Callum Turner) and Allie (Monica Barbaro).  After general scenes of character introductions, we move into the main focus of the film; these two are trying to move through all the fluff and bluster of the ‘one night only’ aspect in search of a real bond.  From here, we move through scenes that infuse your typical romantic clichés with awkward comedic gags that reflect the ‘one night only’ gimmick.  This provides a foundation where there is a sense of unpredictability, but the fateful ‘foreshadowing’ plays with the irony of storytelling.  As Owen and Allie deal with their own issues, it creates a place where that ‘fateful’ technique reflects upon their own hubris in a different guise.  As these two work through their ‘happen stance’ encounters of running into each other, it starts to become a play on the ‘will they / won’t they’ motif.  You feel the compounded nature of romantic clichés, but also see this window into the wholesomeness of them trying to ‘buck the norm’ of this one-night exception.  This starts to provide a layer above the foundation, creating a complexion for the audience to see an honest thread of two people trying to find love.

As the film continues down its auspicious journey of comedic banter and awkward encounters, each moment becomes a window into the unique situation of the ban.  For all the wholesome details in our main characters, the aspect of their ‘world’ adds to their motives.  This creates a tease of loose threads, where the possibility of depth becomes a thematic presence trapped in a plot device.  Even when this happens, the strong character dynamic keeps you hooked into the playful aspect of the night.  When certain domino’s fall through a reflective like moment, we head into a third act that brings everything full circle, leading into a climax and epilogue that brings its own unique threading of what it means to love.  One Night Only is a rom com that rises just a hair above its common roots.  If you are a fan of romance or character driven moments, this will be a fun time.  In the end, I believe this is a great date night film at the theaters.

Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)