Film Review: One of Them Days

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted buddy comedy that runs for a breezy 90 minutes, look no further than One of Them Days. Starring Keke Palmer, who has been making waves in Hollywood since she was just 11 featuring in dramas and horrors to hosting her own talk show and starring in a Broadway musical, but here she returns to her comedic roots, making it a perfect choice to enjoy with friends, a partner, or even for some solo laughter. 

One of Them Days follows roommates Dreux Jones (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) struggling to make ends meet. Things go from bad to worse when Alyssa’s boyfriend takes their rent money leaving the girls racing against the clock to make up $1500 by the end of the day to avoid eviction while keeping their friendship intact. 

What makes this watch intriguing is our two characters are complete opposites. Dreux is a charismatic, hard-working waitress who’s longing for more with a life-changing interview on the horizon. In contrast, aspiring artist Alyssa embraces a "fly by the seat of your pants" lifestyle. Though she often finds herself making poor decisions, her intentions are good, and she remains a fiercely loyal friend. Ironically, this shared loyalty is one quality that bonds them despite their differences. 

SZA's acting debut marks an impressive milestone in her journey as an artist, transitioning from an American singer-songwriter known for hits like "Kill Bill," "All the Stars," and "Saturn." Watching both SZA and Palmer on the big screen, SZA couldn’t have picked a better co-star to work with for her first big feature. They share great chemistry, riffing off each other with hilarious jokes, risky stunts, and silly antics that had me giggling all the way through.

As the film unfolds, we embark on a wild ride with our duo as they resort to questionable tactics to scrape together enough money to pay their rent on time. Their journey begins at a loan company, where we encounter the comedic powerhouse Katt Williams. He portrays a homeless man who, throughout the film, offers our hilariously misguided pair bits of wisdom they consistently choose to overlook. One unforgettable line he delivers is, “If you don’t have the money this month, you won’t have it next month,” perfectly capturing the situation's absurdity. 

If stand-up comedian Katt Williams isn't enough to have you in stitches, the cast also features a stellar lineup of comedic talent, including Lil Rel Howery from (Get Out), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) and an unexpected yet delightful performance by Maude Apatow, known for her role in (Euphoria).

Director Lawrence Lamont and Executive Producer Issa Rae deliver a fun laugh-out-loud comedy with an eclectic cast, while also diving into important themes like gentrification and the representation of Black media. The film gives the audience a glimpse into the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck, the pitfalls of character misconceptions, the ups and downs of friendships, and the dynamics of community living. All of these elements are woven together in this quick 90-minute feature but perhaps it would have benefitted from taking a moment to step back and sit in a joke or serious conversation but it still manages to do a great job. 

While watching One of Them Days, I couldn’t help but notice how it reminded me of the classic comedy-drama Friday (1995), featuring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. In both films, we follow two friends who find themselves in a tough spot and must meet a looming deadline to avoid serious consequences. The similarities between these two narratives are striking, and it’s refreshing to see such nuances making a comeback in Hollywood.

With hip-hop beats from artists like Doja Cat, GloRilla, and Ice Cube, combined with its old-school vibe and the undeniable chemistry between Keke and SZA, One of Them Days is a delightful modern-day comedy that you can easily revisit, especially when you’re having one of them days.