The new Universal romantic comedy “One Night Only” has drawn sharply divided reviews over its high-concept premise: in a world where sex between single people is outlawed for most of the year, a 12-hour window makes it legal one night annually.
Directed by Will Gluck, the film stars Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner as the lead couple, with a supporting cast including Maya Hawke, Molly Ringwald, LeVar Burton, and Julia Fox. The premise has earned it the nickname “Sex Purge” for its echoes of “The Purge” horror films, though the result is a sunny meet-cute rather than a dystopian thriller.
The Guardian was unimpressed, calling the film a “bizarre romcom” that cannot escape the grim implications of its setting. The review described it as overstuffed and undercooked, with a totalitarian setup that sits awkwardly alongside the peppy soundtrack and romantic comedy conventions.
The Hollywood Reporter took the opposite view, praising Barbaro and Turner for bringing genuine sparkle to the film. In that review, the movie is sweeter and sexier than its contrived script deserves, with the leads’ chemistry carrying the day.
“One Night Only” serves as Universal’s late-summer offering and marks the first wide-releasing romantic comedy since April, according to The Guardian. The film’s theatrical rollout and the heated critical response are likely to fuel interest as the genre tries to stage a comeback.