In a heavily used plot line of sci-fi a rom-com has emerged. “One Night Only” is a grounded fascist dystopia. An alternate world where premarital sex is outlawed except for one day and is regulated by color coded wrist tattoos. The film throws away the bleak, dark somber tones  and instead uses comedy and romance to combat the invasive law. I kept wondering what kind of film it would be in the hands of Christian Petzold. The director who did a trilogy of films with the concept of “love in the time of authoritarian fascism. And being confined to just one evening Scorsese’s “After Hours” seemed to be another influence, if not directly and from it being an influence on many other films. Time is the essence though, and everyone not married is in a mad rush to find a sex partner. The result is an entertaining journey to not just sex but to love. Something that is much harder to regulate. It’s a good, effective film-with great cameos and enough twists to keep the Easter eggs to make a second viewing rewarding. It has a delightful charm to it that is hard to earn in the solemn world because the world concept is the vessel not the characters. In fact there’s enough playground in this world that a sequel might be needed. 

The rom-com tropes are there. The crashing-into-each other-first-meeting. The running to confess your love, and the wise friend. Ally and Owen are great at their jobs and in a romantic comedy that means they are bad at their personal lives. Food and honesty and each other’s unique awkwardness wins the day over.  The classic American story formula.

What works in the film is the characters of Allie and Owen, both are mildly successful at work and in life. We feel for both of them and cheer them on to try to make it. It is whole heartedly a rom-com. Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner have real chemistry. It makes the entire film. But  we get enough of the subplots and side characters that enrich the story. We are shown that there are many other enticing stories out there and that Owen’s and Ally’s are just a few. This concept could make for a great tv series with the right writers.

The script at times is solid work, but other times is trying too hard and forcing itself to work- something that even a rewrite wouldn’t fix.  It’s a hard challenge to maintain the tropes of a rom-com and be creative in the setting and story, but the film finds the best possible balance.  “One Night Only” isn’t the most original rom-com but it is not stereotypical. We knew where are going to end up, but as Ally says in the movie its all about the build up. The cast is great and the production team is wonderful. Monica’s dress is unforgettable in this get and does get a workout.   7.5/10