1 Night in San Diego
| 1 Night in San Diego | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Penelope Lawson |
| Written by | Penelope Lawson |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Arlen Konopaki |
| Edited by | Jarrett Keisling |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | 1091 Media |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
1 Night in San Diego is a 2020 American comedy film written and directed by Penelope Lawson. The film stars Jenna Ushkowitz, Laura Ashley Samuels, and Alexandra Daddario and was released on video on demand on November 17, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Development
Lawson stated that she saw a dearth of female buddy comedies and wanted to make one. The premise of the film comes from how as a former New Yorker moving to L.A., Lawson first thought that the city and San Diego were far enough from one other to constitute a road trip.[1][2]
Principal photography took place in Southern California, with filming occurring in Los Angeles and San Diego. Lawson has described the production as an independent film made with a relatively small budget, noting that the cast and crew relied on local locations to depict the nightlife and landmarks of San Diego. She also cited films such as Bridesmaids (2011) and Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) as influences on the film's female-led comedic dynamic. [3][4]
Plot
Hannah, a former reality star, and Brooklyn, a social media influencer, are best friends and wannabe celebrities who have recently moved out to Hollywood. Facing personal and professional woes, they accept an invitation to spend time with a former high school crush in San Diego. When they ultimately find him unappealing, they decide to spend a debauchery-filled night out in the city with two fans of Hannah[1] that will test the limits of their friendship.[5]
Cast
- Jenna Ushkowitz as Hannah
- Laura Ashley Samuels as Brooklyn
- Alexandra Daddario as Kelsey
- Eric Nelsen as Gordo
- Mark Lawson as Christian
- Adam Rose as Kevin
- Brian Borello as Teddy
- Kelsey Douglas as Delia
- Nicolas diPierro as Concierge
- Donna Pieroni as Joyce
Release
The film was released on VOD and digital platforms on November 17, 2020.[6][7][8]
The film was released directly to video on demand rather than theatrically, a distribution strategy adopted by many independent productions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It became available on major digital platforms through distributor 1091 Media on 17 November 2020. [9]
Reception
Critical reception was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 43% based on two critic reviews. [10]
Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com gave the film a grade of B−, praising the performances of Jenna Ushkowitz and Laura Ashley Samuels and writing that the film succeeds by prioritizing "silliness" for much of its running time. Alan Ng of Film Threat awarded the film 8 out of 10, describing it as an entertaining comedy. By contrast, Roger Moore of Movie Nation criticized the screenplay, arguing that it was insufficiently developed despite the cast's efforts. [11][10]
References
- 1 2 3 Benardello, Karen (December 13, 2020). "Video Interview: Penelope Lawson, Jenna Ushkowitz and Laura Ashley Samuels Talk 1 Night in San Diego (Exclusive)". Shockya.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ↑ "Writer, director & executive producer Penelope Lawson on her female buddy comedy '1 Night in San Diego'". KTLA. December 24, 2020. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ↑ Benardello, Karen (December 13, 2020). "Video Interview: Penelope Lawson, Jenna Ushkowitz and Laura Ashley Samuels Talk 1 Night in San Diego (Exclusive)". Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Writer, director & executive producer Penelope Lawson on her female buddy comedy '1 Night in San Diego'". KTLA. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ 1 Night in San Diego (2020) - Plot - IMDb. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via www.imdb.com.
- ↑ "'1 Night in San Diego' Takes Place on Digital, VOD". On Video.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ↑ Hemmert, Kylie (September 29, 2020). "Exclusive 1 Night in San Diego Trailer Starring Jenna Ushkowitz & Laura Ashley Samuels". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ↑ "1 Night in San Diego Out On VOD On November 17th". Orca Sound. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ↑ www.onvideo.org https://www.onvideo.org/1-night-in-san-diego-takes-place-on-digital-vod/. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - 1 2 "1 Night in San Diego | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "1 Night in San Diego Reviews - Metacritic". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.