Imagine if our present administration mandated that married couples could have sex as much as they liked, but singles could have sex only one night a year during a 12-hour period—and they had to wear a condom. How would officials know whether you did? All people would get a tattoo at age 18 that would be red when they were not allowed to have sex but would turn green when they married or on the one night the mandate was lifted. It would blink red if they violated the mandate (had sex anyway, had unprotected sex, etc.) and transmit their location to the law enforcement branch in charge of these crimes.
That is the premise of One Night Only. It is set on the only night unmarried people can have as much sex as they want within that 12-hour period. People are hooking up with anyone and everyone after waiting a whole year for intimacy.
Allie (Monica Barbaro) is a jingle singer who, after being ghosted last year by the guy she hooked up with, has decided that this year she is going to have sex with someone she feels a real connection with. She and her girlfriend have made a pact that they are not going to go for the first guy they meet but will wait for the right guy. That idea goes down the drain when her friend hooks up with a guy she met while in line for the restroom.
Allie decides to go alone to find someone for the night.
Owen (Callum Turner) owns a pizza shop and has been in a committed relationship with his girlfriend for two years. This is the night he plans to propose, but she announces that she is going to sleep with their neighbor and tells him not to return to the apartment that night.
Allie and Owen literally run into each other on the street, but before they can hook up, Owen ruins the moment. Throughout the night, they keep running into each other after disastrous encounters with other people.
I found this film to be funny, warm and even hopeful. On a night when sex is the basis of interaction for most people, Allie and Owen are looking for more. They both want a true connection, intimacy and commitment.
I have to give it to Molly Ringwald, who plays Owen’s mother, Linda, and LaVar Burton, who plays Linda’s partner. They are funny but also show commitment in their love for each other.
I found One Night Only to be enjoyable, cute, funny and, in a way, refreshing. There is frequent use of the F-word and nudity in some form, but there are also lots of laughs and smiles. It is definitely an adult date night film.
I give ONE NIGHT ONLY 3½ out of 5 winks of the EYE.