Review: Two Night Stand (2014)

Directed by: Max Nichols | 83 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton, Jessica Szohr, Scott Mescudi, Berto Colon, Josh Salatin, Kellyn Lindsay, Michael Showalter, Leven Rambin, Joey Lauren Adams, Brian Petsos, Chris Conroy, Jeremy Rishe

Okay: gentlemen, what types of ladies do you know that you meet online? According to a magazine in ‘Two Night Stand’ (the title explanation, we’ll get to that in a minute), there are five, including the geek type, the slutty type and the woman who puts herself back in the saddle after a nasty break- up, because her partner was cheating on you. Guess what type of woman this cream bowl is about …

Megan (Analeigh Tipton) has had a bad year. She found out that her fiancé was cheating on her, graduated in a field she absolutely doesn’t want to work in, and now spends her days mostly online on the couch of her roommate Faiza, who does have a boyfriend and job. Under pressure from her roommate, she decides to create a profile on a dating site. She doesn’t really feel like it, but she also realizes that her life could now use a boost and a one night stand is – she thinks – exactly what she needs. And there is Alec (Miles Teller). Of the available supply, he comes across as normal, so Megan visits him in his apartment and one of them comes with the pre-planned.

The next morning, Megan wakes up, while Alec is still sleeping like a log. To avoid any inconvenience, she decides to get out quickly, but Alec wakes up anyway. And then they get into a fight. An impressive I’m-mad-so-I’m-storm-away-now scene is not given to Megan, because New York was buried under a huge amount of snow last night and she simply cannot open the front door. Out of necessity, Megan and Alec have to spend a few more hours, including a second night, precisely: there is that title, to get through with each other.

‘Two Night Stand’ is a romantic comedy by the book. Not surprising, although the reason the two should give each other a second chance is original. Also in the denouement ‘Two Night Stand’ surprisingly comes around the corner. The film’s greatest asset are its two charismatic protagonists. Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton have a pleasant appearance, turning their characters into layered and believable characters. What is also refreshing is their attitude to life. Megan and Alec are both still looking for a suitable life meaning, but Alec’s talk about his lack of ambition and why is not only candid, but also averse to what you usually see in Hollywood films about young people. Not to mention Megan’s sweetest wish.

Max Nichols, son of famous director Mike (1931-2014), turns his feature film debut into a successful mix. He combines elements from the contemporary intelligent romantic comedies, which talk a lot about sex, with the more old-fashioned films, in which the man fights for the woman and the woman wants nothing more than to give birth to his children. And strangely enough it also works. Great for relaxation, this ‘Two Night Stand’.