Director: Lawrence Lamont
Writer: Syreeta Singleton
Stars: Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway
Synopsis: When best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.
There’s just something about a film that makes you laugh deep from the bowels of your stomach, causing gut-busting hilarity. To my utter shock, One of Them Days is one of those films. Written by Syreeta Singleton (Insecure), directed by Lawrence Lamont (Rap Sh!t), and produced by Issa Rae (American Fiction), One of Them Days is the next great American buddy comedy for a new generation. Hilarious, with a sense of community and female empowerment, it’s one of those movies that’s just a good time.
One of Them Days follows the trials and tribulations of Dreux (Nope’s Keke Palmer), a hard working waitress struggling to make ends meet. She’s up for a big promotion at work—to become a franchise manager at one of the locations where she strives to make patrons feel like family. Dreux is a good kid, growing up in the “Jungle,” and forming relationships with people like Mama Ruth (Vanessa Bell Calloway), who runs a bodega out of her apartment.
Dreux lives with her best friend, Alyssa (SZA), who complements her. Where Dreux is a grinder, Alyssa is a dreamer—a local artist and bohemian free spirit who lets life come to her. However, after Dreux gets a visit from her landlord demanding rent—something she thought Alyssa had taken care of—they discover that Alyssa’s boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), took the money to invest in his own extremely flammable fashion line. Now, they have eight hours to come up with some cash or face eviction.
Lamont and Singleton’s film is often very funny, highlighted by the charming performances of Palmer and SZA. The script includes a handful of vibrant and hilarious cameos, including a scene-stealing Katt Williams as “Lucky,” a man warning patrons outside a payday/installment loan center about the dangers of these establishments. (Hilariously, the interest rate is 1,900%.) This depiction is spot-on, as these places often prey on working-class, historically marginalized communities. This is an example of a funny and smart satirization from Singleton’s script that will go underappreciated. Abbott Elementary‘s Keyla Monterroso is very funny as a non empathetic loan agent.
You then have a subplot about the beginning of gentrification in the Jungle, with the daughter of Judd, Maude Apatow’s character, Bethany, being the first white person to move into the neighborhood—motivated by the fact that her rescue dog came from there. The movie’s biggest laugh comes from another Quinta Brunson player, Janelle James, who plays a phlebotomy technician and pushes the envelope with some blood-drawing gross-out humor. There’s even a running gag about drive-through robberies that incorporates product placement for Church’s Chicken.
Yes, this is a comedy that is easy to see where it is headed with a fairly standard plot. At some point, you know the friends are going to question each other, fight, and come back together. However, that is just common with any genre buddy comedy. The difference here is the comedic chemistry between the leads. Palmer and SZN push and feed off each other, while also adding heart to the roles that promote empowerment while avoiding harmful tropes.
Yet, that’s beside the point. One of Them Days is too damn funny to ignore. With two hilarious lead performances, a handful of memorable cameos, and four or five big belly laughs, this comedy delivers laugh-out-loud, friendship-fueled chaos that kicks off the new year just right.
You can watch One of Them Days only in theaters January 17th!
