One Night Only is the latest adult comedy from writer/director Will Gluck (Anyone But You, Friends With Benefits). The film is set in an alternate New York City where three years earlier premarital sex was outlawed in the United States, except for one night a year, for 12 hours. Similar to The Purge, but with sex instead of killing and murder.

Claremont Pizza shop Owen (Callum Turner) has been dating girlfriend Malika (Maya Hawke) for the past three years, and plans to propose to her before tonight’s exemption period begins. However, as they sit down for dinner, Malika informs Owen that she’s going to sleep with someone else tonight, and suggests that he do the same. She also asks him to stay out of the apartment tonight so that she can use it for her rendezvous. So a dejected and depressed Owen heads out, not knowing what the night holds for him.

Meanwhile, Allie (Monica Barbaro) is an aspiring singer who gets stage fright, so instead of singing meaningful songs that connect with an audience, she finds herself singing jingles, the latest of which is for a psoriasis medicine. Allie had planned to spend the night out with her friend Jacinta (King Princess). They had agreed to stick with one another and wait until they both managed to find good guys and true love on this least romantic night of the year, rather than just hooking up with some meat. However, Jacinta takes off with the first man she meets in line for the bathroom, leaving Allie on her own.

As they Owen and Allie wander the lonely NYC streets, they cross paths. But their initially-promising meet-cute takes a repulsive turn, and they go their separate ways. However, throughout the night, and under bizarre and unusual circumstances, fate keeps bringing them back together. It seems like the universe is desperately trying make them a couple. While they initially start off as adversaries, fighting over the seemingly-last condom in New York City, the duo decides to work together, to help one another find someone to spend the night with. But in the process are they actually starting to fall for one another?

One Night Only is both hilarious and heartwarming. Leads Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro have such palpable chemistry, that you instantly want these two to end up together, despite the seemingly-endless string of obstacles that this night brings. Over the course of the night both Owen and Allie find themselves quite unlucky in love, dealing with undesirable potential mates, and promising conquests turning out to be horrible people, and finding themselves in crazy, unexpected situations, quite often naked or in some compromising position.

Writer/director Will Gluck keeps the film constantly moving with lots of fun and unexpected twists and turns, and the characters ending up in wildly inappropriate, compromising and always hilarious situations. The film also really showcases the city, which is a major character itself. In addition to the main cast, there are so many recognizable cameos and guest stars. Some of the highlights for me are Owen’s mother Linda (Molly Ringwald) and her partner Rick (LeVar Burton). Ringwald and Burton are hilarious together, and show they are willing to do anything for laughs. Also a lot of fun is the crass 12-year-old Troy (Mateo Ray) that Allie’s roommate Arya (Quintessa Swindell) has been hired to babysit. But there are so many other fun appearances.

Universal has released One Night Only on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. We were sent the Blu-ray release for review, which looks and sounds excellent. The picture looks crisp and clear, with a solid level of detail throughout, even during the darker, nighttime sequences. The audio track provides clear dialogue, and a fully-immersive experience capturing the ambiance of the city streets or indoor parties/restaurants, or when characters sing or play the piano. The film’s pop soundtrack is amazing, with so many great, recognizable needle drops. There are even a couple of fun fake-outs that start off making you think you’re listening to a Top 40 song, only to have the lyrics turn ridiculous, revealing it’s actually some pharmaceutical jingle.

The Blu-ray release contains just a single Blu-ray disc, packed in a standard HD keepcase, covered with a carboard slipcover with an embossed title. There are also redemption instructions for an HD digital copy of the film. The disc contains over 18 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes with the cast and crew.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:42:35)

Blu-ray:
• 1080p / Anamorphic Widescreen 2.39:1
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English DVS (Descriptive Video Service), Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Digital (code may not be valid after 1/31/2028):

• HD Digital Copy (Movies Anywhere compatible)

Extras:
Play All, or select from:

• Feeling Sparks (4:42)
  The cast and crew discuss the-meet-cute moment between the main characters, how their relationship develops, and the chemistry between the actors. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/producer Will Gluck, and stars Monica Barbaro (“Allie”) and Callum Turner (“Owen”).
• Pizza 101 with Callum Turner (2:07)
  The cast and crew talk about star Callum Turner learning how to make pizza in a real pizzeria. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/producer Will Gluck, producer Jaqueline Monetta, and actor Callum Turner.
• The Plus Ones (5:44)
  The cast and crew talk about the fun extended cast and characters. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director/producer Will Gluck, producer Jaqueline Monetta, costume designer Jaqueline Demeterio, and actors Callum Turner, Pete Davidson (“Detective Jeterson”), Bobby Cannavale (“Detective Sannongale”), Molly Ringwald (“Linda”), LeVar Burton (“Rick”), Maya Hawke (“Malika”), Julia Fox (“Skye”), King Princess (“Jacinta”), Monica Barbaro, Okierete Onaodowan (“Tejan”), Quintessa Swindell (“Arya”), Nicholas Braun (“Woodrow K. Mullhand, CFP”), Ben Marshall (“Patrick Brunson”), Daniel Roy (“Jonathan ‘Magician’ Payne”), Jay Ellis (“Bernard Starks”), Andrew Burnap (“Max”), Sydney Cole Alexander (“Danica”), Mike Birbiglia (“Officer McAnnie”), Charlie Gillespie (“Ezra Strong”), Ziwe (“Bethia”), Este Haim (“Aura”) & Ella Loudon (“Gorgeous Vivian”).
• No Glucks Given (5:50)
  The cast and crew talk about working with director Will Gluck, director of photography Yaron Orbach & first assistant director Doug Torres, their style of filmmaking, the unique look of the film, shooting in NYC, the Little Red Lighthouse, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, a look at the signage, and interviews with director/producer Will Gluck, producer Jaqueline Monetta, production designer Scott Kuzio, art director Marci Mudd, and actors Callum Turner, Monica Barbaro & King Princess.

Final Thoughts:

One Night Only is highly-entertaining romantic comedy for adults. It’s a clever concept, taking an idea like The Purge but turning it into a rom-com. Leads Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro have amazing chemistry. The cast is filled with so many recognizable faces, all of whom are willing to do whatever it takes for laughs—there doesn’t seem to be any boundaries. Universal’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds amazing, and includes a small but entertaining selection of bonus material. I have already watched this film twice and it will definitely be a part of my regular rotation. It’s such a great time and comes highly recommended.