Alright, let’s talk about time travel. Who hasn’t wondered what they’d do if they could turn back the clock for just a minute? You know, fix a mistake, take a different path, or maybe just relive a moment that felt too good to be true. One More Shot, helmed by Nicholas Clifford, plays with this idea, wrapping it up in a fun little bow with time-traveling tequila, set on New Year’s Eve, 1999.
At first, I thought this could be a fun, quirky ride—you know, like a rom-com with a twist. But, like that one shot of tequila, you regret it the morning after; the movie’s initial thrill fades quickly, and you’re left wondering what exactly just happened.
The movie’s high concept of time loops and lost love sounds delicious, but as it plays out, it feels more like a missed shot than a sweet victory. If you were expecting fireworks from a film where tequila makes you time-travel, you might find yourself settling for a damp squib instead. Let’s know in detail.
What’s One More Shot about: A time-looped tale of love, regret & second chances
Coming from the screenplay by Alice Foulcher & Gregory Erdstein, One More Shot introduces us to Minnie (Emily Browning), a successful anesthesiologist who’s struggling with her love life. The night of the millennium, she’s avoiding a New Year’s Eve party with her friends—until she hears that her ex, Joe (Sean Keenan), will be there.
Naturally, her curiosity piques and Minnie jumps at the chance to possibly rekindle that old spark. But the moment she walks in, Joe introduces her to his new girlfriend, Jenny (Aisha Dee), and boom—there goes her fantasy. What does Minnie do next? Well, in her frustration, she drinks a bottle of tequila that mysteriously sends her back in time to the start of the night.
Minnie gets a second chance to relive the evening, but instead of rekindling a romance with Joe, she keeps repeating the same night over and over, trying to rewrite her story. As the night loops, Minnie becomes increasingly obsessed with trying to change her fate and win back Joe, though her attempts to alter the past seem futile and lead her deeper into a spiral of self-discovery.
The perils of a time loop (with a side of tequila)
Now, let me be clear, One More Shot does have a cool concept. A tequila bottle that can rewind time? That’s pretty unique, right? But here’s where things take a wrong turn. Time loops, when done well, have this addictive quality. The thrill of seeing a character try and fail, then try again—but with each loop, learning a little more about themselves, growing, changing, becoming a better version of themselves.
Unfortunately, One More Shot gets stuck in the same cycle of Minnie trying to win back Joe. She repeated the same actions over and over, and frankly, after a while, it felt like I was watching a broken record.
I don’t want to sound too harsh. But the more Minnie drank from that magical bottle, the more I found myself checking my watch. Yeah, the party’s fun at first, and sure, I laughed a few times, but the movie quickly becomes like the party guest who won’t leave, repeating the same jokes and growing more tiresome by the minute.
The real issue is this: I never felt like Minnie was learning anything new. The idea of time travel is supposed to be a vehicle for growth, for personal discovery, but here, it feels like she’s just spinning her wheels—literally.
Emily Browning shines, but the film stumbles
Now, if there’s one thing that kept me from checking out entirely, it’s Emily Browning. She is an absolute delight to watch. Seriously, she’s the heart of the film. Whether she’s delivering some quick-witted one-liners or getting lost in deeper, more emotional moments, Browning carries Minnie with ease. She makes the character endearing even when she’s being a bit, well, self-absorbed.
It’s no surprise that Browning’s charm is the film’s saving grace. She’s an actress who can juggle both humor and vulnerability effortlessly, and she’s really good at it here.
But as much as I adore Browning, she can only do so much with what’s on the page. Sure, she pulls off some hilarious physical comedy, but after a while, it becomes clear that Minnie’s arc is more about hitting the same comedic beats than about a real transformation.
The humor doesn’t feel as fresh the tenth time around, and the emotional depth Minnie’s supposed to explore doesn’t quite land as strongly as it could. The film seems to miss the mark on that front—leaving Minnie’s internal growth feeling more like a meh moment than the impactful conclusion it could’ve been.
Supporting cast: Strong performances in shallow roles
It’s not just Emily Browning that shines here. The supporting cast gives some solid performances, particularly Sean Keenan as Joe. While the actor does a great job portraying a guy who’s both confused and somewhat indifferent to Minnie’s advances, his character doesn’t really go anywhere.
Joe’s arc is just… there, and you never really feel any sort of emotional payoff from his interactions with Minnie. That’s a huge missed opportunity, especially given that the entire plot revolves around her obsession with him.
Aisha Dee’s Jenny, on the other hand, is a welcome contrast to Minnie’s antics. She’s smart, no-nonsense, and provides a bit of much-needed grounding amidst Minnie’s time-loop chaos. Jenny feels like the one character who’s not stuck in a loop, which makes her an interesting foil for Minnie. Her interactions with Minnie are the most genuine moments in the film, and Dee brings a nice balance to the emotional and comedic sides of the story.
Then there’s Ashley Zukerman as Rodney, the wealthy surgeon dressed like Ace Ventura. He’s hilarious and brings some much-needed energy to the film, especially in the early scenes. His role is fun but underutilized, and by the end, I wished we’d seen more of him.
Is One More Shot worth a watch?
Time-travel stories often pack a punch, but One More Shot feels like a game of darts with a blindfold on. The movie’s premise of using tequila to revisit the past is unique, but the execution doesn’t quite nail it.
Despite its fresh concept and solid performances, the film feels like it’s stuck in a loop of missed opportunities. There’s no doubt that it’s fun for a while, and the idea of a time-traveling tequila bottle offers a lot of comedic potential. The film doesn’t fully explore the deeper emotional aspects of the time loop. Minnie’s journey feels repetitive, and her growth never quite hits the emotional beats it should.
The pacing, too, feels off. Sure, there’s a twist in the third act, but even that feels more like a small hiccup than a game-changer. And while the cast does a great job with what they’re given, the film’s lack of enthusiasm makes it hard to truly invest in the characters’ fates.
If you’re into light-hearted comedies or time-travel flicks, it’s worth a one-time watch. Just don’t expect it to be the best thing since sliced bread. It’s like that sweet dessert you had once—it’s good, but you probably won’t go out of your way for it. The potential is there, but the execution could use a little extra oomph.
One More Shot made its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 7th, 2025.
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