When I first saw the trailer and a reference to “the one night a year single people are legally allowed to have sex”, I thought it was some cute reference to Valentine’s Day. Um, that was not the case. One Night Only is what you’d get if asking George Orwell to write a fluffy romantic comedy. Think of a cross between 1984 and Notting Hill.

In the film’s opening act, we learn the conservative Federal Government in the United States has introduced a law stating that sex outside of wedlock is banned. There is a single exception. On a selected summer night each year, “random” sex is permitted from 7pm and 7am. If you think flower sales are high on February 14, wait until you see the spike of condom sales in the lead up to this evening!

It’s a weird premise that the film is always struggling with. Set in progressive New York City, it continually refers to the population being unhappy with the law but how did it even come about in the first place? Where are the protests and push back? Why is everyone walking around as if it’s some minor inconvenience? How is it conceivable that people would agree to be microchipped to ensure compliance with the legislation? Given battles to get folks vaccinated, this seems quite a stretch of the imagination.

If you can put the incomprehensible scenario aside, and that’ll be a big IF to some, One Night Only succeeds thanks to its dual leads - American Monica Barbaro, who picked up a breakthrough Oscar nomination for her supporting performance in A Complete Unknown, and British-born Callum Turner who has built a steady filmography over the past decade. They play Allie and Owen, two likeable strangers who meet repeatedly across the 12-hour period, but fate has a funny way of ensuring they don’t hook up.

Directed by Will Gluck, the man who helmed other financially successful rom coms including Easy A, Friends with Benefits, and Anyone but You, One Night Only is both irritating and charming. The “government control” backstory drove me nuts (did we need it?) but I bought into the romantic/comedic chemistry while also being wooed by the New York setting and upbeat, electronic music score. The supporting players are fun too as highlighted by the performance of Mateo Ray as a chatty young kid with no filter.

Already generating a range of opinions on social media, this will get you talking.