Film Review: One of Them Days

One of Them Days
Director: Lawrence Lamont
Tristar Pictures, Hoorae Media
Premiere: 01.17.25

The first few months of the year are known for being a dry spell for wide-release movies. December has just finished dumping all its Oscar-bait contenders and family-friendly flicks, and then January comes around and all the focus shifts to Sundance and other film festivals, so it’s no wonder that films like One of Them Days were lost in that chaotic shuffle.

One of Them Days is a buddy comedy starring the iconic Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP, Nope) as Dreux, a waitress prepping for her franchise manager interview, and Solána Imani Rowe (aka SZA), as Alyssa, Dreux’s struggling artist roommate and best friend. The film centers on these two friends as they try to earn back $1500 to pay their rent before the end of the day or be forced out onto the streets. Both actresses give hilarious, charismatic performances, but everyone knows that a good buddy comedy is contingent on the chemistry of the two leads, and Palmer and SZA have loads to spare. They truly make you believe that they have been friends all their lives. 

It’s apparent that the movie is a love letter to ‘90s comedies like Friday. The film makes the neighborhood of Baldwin Village, which locals lovingly refer to as “The Jungles,” feel like a character of its own — complete with eccentric characters like Bully Berniece (Aziza Scott) and condescending Payday employee Kathy (Keyla Monterroso Mejia). The film truly shines when it comes to the side quests Palmer and SZA get up to just to get their money back: From freeloading loser boyfriends to the unrelenting girl he was seeing on the side, to getting mixed up with ruthless gangsters over a pair of Jordans, there is no shortage of hilarious hijinks in sight.

Even with all that craziness, the movie still delivers a surprising amount of heart and conveys a message about knowing your self-worth and the value of female friendships — messages that screenwriter Syreeta Singleton (Insecure) has much experience from her days of writing for TV, which she is now bringing to the big screen. The whole movie is a slew of debuts, in fact, from SZA’s first starring film role to director Lawrence Lamont’s (Rap Sh!t) first feature film.

All this praise comes without even mentioning everything this film excels at on a technical level. The vibrant and saturated colors engulf the film and show just how lively “The Jungles” is. The editing is quick and snappy and adds to the comedic timing of the performances. And who can forget the music? It’s no surprise that a movie starring SZA would have an immaculate soundtrack that captures the vibe of “The Jungles” and the people who live there. 

The whole movie is a fun ride from beginning to end. Every performance, from the leads to the one-off gag characters, keeps you locked in and looking forward to whatever unhinged escapade comes next. It’s the distraction we’ve been needing in these trying times. So, to whoever says that theatrical R-rated movies are dead, go catch One of Them Days! —Angela Garcia

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