One Night Only: Film Review

The world built for this story is most baffling aspect to me. The eye-catching concept ends up inviting more questions than concrete answers, namely the question of why. There are brief attempts to explain and infuse real-life political commentary into the comedic situation, but the logistics set by the story lead me to believe that this shouldn’t be a lighthearted situation. 

The trivialization of every character’s “fuck the mandate,” their subsequent acceptance of said mandate, and thriving in it feels accurate to how important movements are used and discarded in America. There is an interesting depiction of the commercialization of protest through the character Ezra Strong (Charlie Gillespie) and the story's use of Durex condoms, but like the one-line explanation of the lack of queerness in this story, it only exists in fleeting moments. It also feels, in part, like a direct dig at many active social movements, suggesting that silent complicity will work out for individuals in the end. It feels irresponsible of the film to not suggest doing otherwise. I’m not saying that I expected Children of Men, nor did I expect anti-government, or anti-fascist sentiment from One Night Only, I’m just saying it might have been a better movie if it went that route. 

Notably, this film’s version of New York seems to be inexplicably devoid of gay and black people. Save for LeVar Burton and Ziwe's one-bit characters, the only three black characters with lines are an unnamed African grifter, a Sierra Leonean prince named Tejan (played by Okieriete Onaodowan of Hamilton fame), and Allie’s roommate Arya (Quintessa Swindell), who has to shoulder not just most of the blackness, but all of the gayness as she is the only speaking queer character. 

On the rom- side, I’m not particularly a fan of Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro as actors. I never bought into the Complete Unknown hype for Barbaro in 2024, and while last year's Eternity is good, Mr. Dua Lipa is still little more than a pretty face to me when on-screen. That being said, they were both varying levels of fine here. Turner is definitely the weaker of the two, but I fortunately bought into their chemistry by the poorly edited end of the film. It was cute. They also look really good together, so there’s that. 

Rom-coms aren’t dead. They’re just dormant, waiting for the right filmmaker and pair of actors to wake it right the fuck back up. Will Gluck keeps trying - admittedly with better results this time - but after his second failed attempt in a row, I think it might be time for someone else to give it a try and shake the bed... Anyone but him.

Viewed on 8/4/26 at Press Screening

Published on 8/5/26