Emily Browning delivers a delightful, heartfelt performance in One More Shot, a clever romantic comedy that blends the chaos of New Year’s Eve 1999 with the endlessly entertaining time-loop trope. Directed with nostalgic flair, this indie gem feels like Groundhog Day crashed into a millennial house party – complete with flip phones, glittery makeup, and the lingering dread of the Y2K bug.

A Familiar Premise, Freshly Wrapped in Nostalgia

The story centers on Minnie (Browning), a sharp-witted but emotionally guarded twenty-something who finds herself stuck repeating the same wild New Year’s Eve party in suburban Australia. Each loop begins with a tequila shot and ends with the clock striking midnight – and the world stubbornly refusing to end despite everyone’s Y2K paranoia.

What starts as a night of drunken mistakes, awkward flirtations, and family arguments slowly transforms into an opportunity for Minnie to confront her regrets: a lost love she never fought for, friendships she took for granted, and the dreams she quietly abandoned. The film smartly uses late-’90s pop culture – think The Matrix references, Tamagotchis, and Britney Spears on repeat – as both comic fuel and emotional shorthand.

Emily Browning Steals Every Loop

Browning has always excelled at playing complicated, slightly prickly women (remember Sucker Punch and Sleeping Beauty?), and here she’s given room to be funny, vulnerable, and utterly charming. She nails the gradual shift from cynical detachment to wide-eyed hope, making each repeated interaction feel fresh. Whether she’s sabotaging her ex’s new romance, attempting to save her best friend from embarrassment, or finally telling her parents how much she loves them, Browning makes you root for Minnie even when she’s making terrible decisions.

The supporting cast – including a perfectly sleazy cameo from an Australian TV veteran and a lovable stoner DJ – keeps the energy chaotic and warm. The chemistry between Browning and her on-screen ex (played with quiet sweetness by Sam Corlett) builds beautifully across the loops, turning familiar rom-com beats into something genuinely moving.

Why It Works (Even If You’ve Seen This Before)

Time-loop stories live or die by their emotional core, and One More Shot finds its heart in the fear of growing older without ever really growing up. The Y2K setting isn’t just window dressing; it mirrors Minnie’s own anxiety about time running out – on love, on youth, on second chances. The film never gets preachy, though. It trusts laughter and small, human moments to do the heavy lifting.

Yes, you’ll guess where it’s headed about halfway through, but the joy is in the journey. The script sparkles with witty one-liners, and the soundtrack is an absolute early-2000s time capsule that’ll have you grinning in recognition.

Final Verdict: A Sweet, Boozy Toast to Second Chances

One More Shot might not reinvent the time-loop wheel, but it spins it with enough charm, humor, and genuine feeling to make it one of the coziest rom-coms of the year. Emily Browning reminds us why we’ve missed her on screen, carrying the film with a performance that’s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.

If you’re craving a feel-good movie that pairs perfectly with leftover holiday champagne and a side of nostalgia, raise a glass to Minnie – and to second (and third, and fourth) chances. This one’s worth reliving.

Read Also: Project Hail Mary Second Trailer Review: Ryan Gosling's Stellar Turn Ignites Sci-Fi Buzz for 2026

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!