One Night

1 Night is a charming, intriguing, and relatable romantic drama. Set in Los Angeles, at the Figueroa Hotel, the film follows a married couple in their mid-30s, played by Anna Camp and Justin Chatwin, as they visit the site of their high school prom, in hopes of rekindling the flame that was the foundation of their once glorious marriage. During the visit, they frequently stumble across an optimistic, ambitious teenage couple, played by Isabelle Fuhrman and Kyle Allen, attending their own prom. The film is largely character driven. It intermittently transitions between the couples, demonstrating both the similarities and haunting differences between them. The juxtaposition of the two couples proves how quickly our feelings of love and romance can change with time. The film's narrative is incredibly realistic, and it suggests that Minhal Baig (writer and director) is drawing on her own evocative experiences. With a captivating plot-twist in the film's final moments, all in all, 1 Night is a thought- provoking romantic drama that audiences of all ages will surely enjoy.

I don't know if it matters or it will play into some peoples rating, but if you know the actors from other projects, you may feel compelled and kind of smitten by them even before you watch the first frame. But I can understand people who feel there is not enough "new" in this to make it interesting for them. I mean how do you spin this but still make it relatable to watch? So the couples do have chemistry and I do think the actors are doing a good or at least decent enough job with their characters.

Still while it tries to be really philosophical, it is not really a top romantic movie. There are some neat twists and it might not be exactly what you expect all the way through, but you can still see most of it coming a long way ahead of it appearing.

1Night is not your average romance movie. I expected to see a traditional, slightly cliché story of an unlikely couple falling for each other at prom, however this wasn't the case. 1Night offered a refreshing look at relationships over time. While this film technically only spans "one night", the contrasts shown between the younger and older couple's relationships in the sense of years left a big impact. At a few parts this film was hilarious in a cute and quirky way, however 1Night really shined when comparing the hurtful rawness of mature love with the sweet tenderness of new love. Without giving away spoilers, the aspect of time in this movie played a larger role than expected and in a way caused 1Night to really stand out among other romantic dramas. Furthermore, this strong plot was impressively acted out by Justin Chatwin (Shameless) and Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect), alongside newcomers Isabella Fuhrman (The Ring) and "Heath Ledger doppelganger" Kyle Allen. With hard hitting monologues and cute one liners from both sides, leaving the theater with dry eyes is a struggle. In conclusion,this creative Indie flick pulls at your heart strings in a big way while supported by a strong cast with familiar faces.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I came across this wonderfully charming film that presents a realistic portrayal of love that viewers can identify with. 1 Night's central characters are believable and relatable, which allows us to become invested in the story and the authentic chemistry between the two couples. The dialogue is sharp, and the ending (unlike a lot of romantic films) is truly thought provoking. Each of the four lead actors, whom normally work less dramatic roles, deliver fantastic performances, proving that they are forces to be reckoned with in Hollywood. I thought the cinematography was top-notch, and the film's use of warm lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere. 1 Night is a wonderful commentary of love, life, and personal growth, making it a choice selection for this Valentine's Day.

One Night is a movie that pushes too much charm on the audience and lacks the substance needed to propel the characters where they need to go internally. Chatwin's Drew is two dimensional at best while Camp's Elizabeth takes herself way too seriously. The true chemistry in this movie lies with Kyle Allen and Isabelle Fuhrman, their scenes together are what really make this movie worth the watch - they're palpable and visceral. Sadly the only other charming thing about One Night besides Fuhrman and Allen is the plot twist ending which is very predictable midway through the film. This movie had the potential to be a great, intelligent indie film but in the end falls flat due to poor writing, bad directing, and lack of character development.

One night is worth one watch.