‘One of Them Days’ — KeKe Palmer is Comedy Gold

We’re losing recipes to the classic comedies that shaped our formative years. Those rewatchable quote-worthy gems gifted us with phrases ingrained in popular culture, like “Bye, Felicia” from Friday, unforgettable spandex outfits matched with wild hairstyles in B.A.P.S or memorable characters easily recognized by their names alone: Big Worm, Pinky, even McLovin. A glimmer of hope came in 2022 with the release of the horror comedy The Blackening. But since then, outside of a few shorts, there just hasn’t been a comedy that lingered on the palate with the authenticity to become the next cult classic — until now. Thanks to the combined talents of producer Issa Rae, screenwriter Syreeta Singleton, and director Lawrence Lamont, we have yielded our first comedy banger of the year courtesy of One of Them Days, which follows two besties who have until the end of the day to pay their rent.

Dreux (KeKe Palmer; Nope) and Alyssa (SZA) are childhood friends and roommates living in a crumbling apartment in Baldwin Village, also known as The Jungles. Dreux is the responsible one. She works as a waitress at the diner chain Norms, and if things go well at her 4 p.m. interview, she’ll be promoted to franchise manager. Meanwhile, Alyssa is more free-spirited and spends her days painting and laying up with her freeloading boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal). It’s the first of the month, and if the rent is late, their ruthless landlord, Uche (Rizi Timane), will toss them out on the curb as he just did one of their neighbors. Dreux, fresh off a night shift, gets ready to turn in to get some rest before her big interview when Uche knocks on the door demanding rent. For whatever reason, Alyssa, high on good lovin’, entrusted the rent money to Keshawn, which he pocketed for himself. Now, the girls have until 6 p.m. to pay Uche, or they’ll be evicted with their neighbor on the curb. 

This movie carries the spirit of LA, showcasing California blue skies and a variety of other LA landmarks that’ll remind residents both of what they love about the city and what they might have lost. Hopefully, it’ll help push further productions to the SoCal scene as there are few other places that resemble the kaleidoscope landscape, where each way you turn carries a vibrant energy and an endearing community.

One of Them Days is a refreshing yet familiar comedy reminiscent of cult classics like Friday, though it leans a little more into Friday After Next. As the first big-screen Black female bestie duo since the critically acclaimed B.A.P.S., it blends the wild and outrageous with a realistic story people can relate to. While you may not have a “biscuit burglar” in your neighborhood, you can probably relate to having areas of your neighborhood that have been taken over by gentrification. You may or may not have had to take out a payday loan just to get by. Or, maybe you tried to get a loan but couldn’t due to your low credit score. The big bad in the film might seem like a Deebo-like character, but the true villains are these systems that prey on the lower-income community and make it hard for them to make their way out of that cycle. That shared struggle is what helps audiences anchor to the film. 

KeKe Palmer is a star. She commands the screen with an effortless presence. This isn’t in any way a slight to SZA, who performed admirably in her feature debut. But it’s hard to compete with Palmer’s natural charisma and innate comedic talent.  Unsure of how the pair would fare on screen together, their magnetic interplay is believable which makes their journey and friendship engaging.  

Just like any other buddy comedy, as their day becomes more stressful, Dreux and Alyssa’s friendship is tested. They’re polar opposites. Dreux is focused and driven, while Alyssa is aimless. And, to be fair, it’s Alyssa’s fault that they’re in this mess in the first place. But, true friendship can withstand anything, including a heavy dose of truth that both have to swallow. Dreux helps Alyssa see her talent and elevate her standards, while Alyssa helps Dreux relax because she already possesses everything she needs to get herself to the next level. 

One of Them Days is a low-key heartfelt comedy with ‘90s fervor. Palmer and SZA are the perfect comedy foils to bring this one-day escapade to life. It’s got all the right stuff to become the newest comedy franchise because audiences will be left wanting more. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars