Netflix’s new Swedish film One More Time is a mashup of classic tropes and settings that point towards a better ending than the one we get, but the unique combination is a fun ride through high school in the early 2000s.

Any repeating-day film that has the courage to name-drop Groundhog Day — and cleverly integrate it into the story — gets some extra points in my book. Netflix’s new Swedish film One More Time is a mashup of classic tropes and settings that point towards a better ending than the one we get, but the unique combination is a fun ride through high school in the early 2000s.

When we first meet our protagonist Amelia (Hedda Stiernstedt), she is stuck. She’s turning 40, and she’s stuck in her hometown, stuck in her ways, and stuck reminiscing about how much better things used to be in high school. That is, she’s stuck until she is hit by a bus and is magically launched into the past to the day of her 18^th birthday. At first, Amelia is delighted at the chance to re-experience what she calls the best time of her life, before she realizes that not everything was as perfect as she remembered. But soon, she realizes this isn’t a one-off glimpse at her idealized life — Amelia repeats her birthday again and again.

Amelia’s friendships take center stage, interrogating her relationship with wild-child bestie Moa (Elinor Silfversparre) and her history with estranged former friend Fiona (Miriam Ingrid). Ingrid is a true standout here, showing all the love and awkwardness that comes with finding yourself in high school with a beautiful singing voice and a soft eagerness to trust others again.

The film’s best quality is how well it puts you into the early-2000s setting. With everything from Amelia’s neon outfits to needle drops from P!nk and Wheatus, the audience is enveloped in the film’s world, adding lots of nostalgic charm. However, there’s only so many times you can see the same events and music play out. Amelia’s eventual turn to nihilism spices up the formula, but the middle section of the film drags as we’re left just as stuck as she is.

The crew, led by director Jonatan Etzler, made the right decision to have Stiernstedt portray Amelia both in the present day and the past. While actress Tindra Källström does a great job playing young Amelia and the two look quite similar, Stiernstedt’s presence makes Amelia’s relief at having a second chance more physical. She brings with her both wisdom and a desperation to do things right this time, leading to comedic effect. Amelia prefers Aperol Spritzes to moonshine, and when she expresses excitement at the chance to settle down with her old boyfriend, he’s overwhelmed at the implication.

As much as I need to judge the movie for what it is rather than what it isn’t, the ending of One More Time was a lot more open-ended than I would have liked. While leaning into the unexpected romance aspect might not have made sense since it’s not present until the final third, it’s still a letdown when the film could have done some real boundary pushing.

One More Time is an interesting take on adolescence, bringing together the well-tested tropes of repeating days and time travel to make something new, but the film doesn’t quite stick the landing. However, if you’re looking for a fresh, breezy story that has a fair number of surprises, it’s a nice twist on two common formulas that will have you imagining, if not actually seeing, a perfect ending.

Grade: B-

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: None

Where to Watch: Netflix

Catie McCarthy
She/her @catiecart
Film (geography) writer and fan of spy movies, film scores, and National Treasure
Favorite Actor: Pierce Brosnan
Sign: Taurus