“One More Shot” Offers a Playful Twist on the Time Loop Genre
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A new Australian film, “One More Shot,” injects a dose of tequila-fueled chaos into the well-trodden territory of time loop narratives, offering a refreshingly playful take on a cinematic staple.
The time loop, a narrative device once considered a potential novelty, has become a surprisingly enduring sub-genre thanks to the enduring legacy of films like “Groundhog Day.” Harold Ramis’ 1993 classic not only entertained audiences but also established key tropes that continue to resonate in contemporary iterations. “One More Shot,” directed by Scott Clifford,joins this lineage with a distinctly Australian flavor and a protagonist driven by decidedly unheroic motives.
Eve Reset
The film unfolds at a new Year’s Eve party in 1999, where Minnie finds herself entangled with friends like Pia (Pallavi Sharda), who anticipates chaos with the looming Y2K scare. However, the disruption isn’t technological, but rather alcoholic. A bottle of tequila becomes Minnie’s personal DeLorean,sending her back to the beginning of the night after every drink. She’s greeted each time by her friend Rodney (Ashley Zukerman) and her former flame, Joe (Sean Keenan). Initially dismissing the experience as intense déjà vu, Minnie eventually accepts the bizarre reality of her newfound ability.
A Self-Serving Time traveler
Unlike the ofen altruistic heroes of the genre, Minnie isn’t driven by a desire to fix the world. The script, penned by Alice Foulcher and Gregory Erdstein (the team behind the 2017 dramedy “That’s Not Me”), establishes Minnie as a character motivated by personal desires. She sees the time loop as an opportunity to sabotage the burgeoning relationship between Joe and his new girlfriend (Aisha Dee, known for her roles in “Sissy” and “Safe Home”), echoing the manipulative tactics of julia Roberts’ character in “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Joe’s presence at the party was initially fueled by Minnie’s hope for reconciliation, or at least a casual encounter.
Ethical Considerations and a Playful Tone
While the narrative initially sets the stage for a predictable moral arc,the film subverts expectations. A series of revelations prompt Minnie to question her actions, but the filmmakers opt for a more lighthearted and “frisky” tone. Clifford presents a world where doing the right thing is merely one of many possibilities within an infinite loop.
The film’s opening act admittedly struggles to gain momentum, focusing on character development before the central premise takes hold. However, the energy shifts dramatically once the tequila-fueled time travel begins. The bottle becomes a conduit to the past, with Minnie consistently finding herself needing a bathroom break upon arrival, leading to an encounter with a coke-snorting partygoer (Hamish Michael). Just as Bill Murray is greeted by Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” each morning in “Groundhog Day,” and Natasha Lyonne is subjected to Harry Nilsson’s “Gotta Get Up” in “Russian Doll,” minnie is met with James’s track “Laid” with each reset.
Browning Anchors a Complex Character
Time loop movies frequently enough demand a significant emotional range from their lead actors, and Browning delivers a strong, multifaceted performance. She portrays Minnie as a character who is neither entirely sympathetic nor wholly unsympathetic, acknowledging the possibility of inherent goodness beneath her self-serving actions. Minnie’s journey is one of both entrapment and empowerment, helplessness and hope, as she navigates her newfound control over time.
Visually, “One More Shot” is somewhat unremarkable. While the characters inhabit a vibrant 1999 party atmosphere,the film’s overall aesthetic feels understated. A more dynamic setting,akin to the visually arresting world of “russian Doll,” could have enhanced the experience. Despite its lack of distinctiveness,the film’s premise – time travel via tequila – offers a unique and memorable hook. It’s a “pleasantly derivative” addition to the time loop canon.
