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“Rap Sh! t” and “Insecure” writer Syreeta Singleton pairs up with music video director Lawrence Lamont in his feature debut to compose a Black women’s buddy comedy that makes you grateful for your worst day. Keke Palmer and SZA play Dreux and Alyssa in "One of Them Days," who are extremely depressed chaos magnets who are attempting to save enough money to avoid being evicted. In the meantime, they have to avoid a vengeful tyrant in the neighborhood who wants to kick their asses, get away from the notorious killer in their neighborhood, and make sure Dreux gets to her job interview on time—all in 24 hours. With high APR loan sharks, below-board blood banks, and a dichotomous duet of precarious love interests exacerbating the stakes, “One of Them Days” brings new credence to the phrase “get active.”
Best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa are a familiar duo: two girls with the same zest for life whose approaches and pragmatism towards the dilemmas of daily living diverge hilariously. Dreux is a charming waitress who works hard and wants to become a franchise manager at her job at a local restaurant. She is the employee of the month because she moves around on the floor like a skateboarder and makes funny jokes and smiles. She is self-assured but anxious. Alyssa, a free-spirited and talented artist, is the kind of girl who splits her time at a party explaining birth charts between tequila shots, wingwomaning for her girls, and sneaking away with her man. But if the song by her and Dreux comes on, you'll know they're going to stop everything and break it up on the dance floor. When Alyssa gives her mooching boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua David Neal) the money for her and Dreux's rent, they don't find out that he spent it on his impromptu T-shirt company called "Cucci" until their landlord comes knocking on their door. They have 24 hours before they get kicked out, and with their neighbor already bartering his possessions on the curb, they know it’s no joke. As a result, a frantic comedy of errors ensues as the best friends work together to keep a roof over their heads despite their good intentions being misguided. The danger and excitement of a lead foot permeate "One of Them Days." The adventures of Dreux and Alyssa are thrilling for both us and them because, even in the most dangerous situations, the two girlfriends' spark shines with just enough "f*ck it" energy to counteract the flight response. Palmer and SZA’s chemistry is motivated by a palpable rapport that complements Lamont’s punchy neon ambience. Palmer brings exactly what we desire and expect, indisputable charisma and goofy line deliveries; SZA, in her acting debut, shows no evidence that this is her first foray in this arena, shining with personality and au natural comic timing.
The writing by Singleton gives a funny picture of "The Jungle," the girls' very LA apartment complex. Occupied by Jameel (Dewayne Perkins), a familiarly unreliable braider who can jailbreak a phone no problem, Mama Ruth (Vanessa Bell Calloway), a warm adoptive auntie figure, and the new tenant, Bethany (Maude Apatow), a clueless but well-meaning symptom of the neighborhood’s gentrified future, the Jungle boasts a cast of characters familiar to city dwellers. The fist-clenching sidekick of Keshawn, Bully Berniece (Aziza Scott), and Dreux's fabled love interest, Maniac (Patrick Cage), whose chemistry with her bursts through the screen despite her sweet inability to read him. As the ladies traverse the city on their any-means-necessary excursions, incompatible cameos and too-obvious performance choices occur with a smidge of regularity. Katt Williams and Lil Rel Howery, despite their iconicity and charisma, fit into the film like a flickering fluorescent bulb at an otherwise well-lit house party: catching your attention with glaring demand rather than supportive aura. Most of the time, Palmer's trademark animated delivery works, but there are times when they hit too hard and there are a few too obvious jokes that make you want to laugh. However, after three whiffs, "One of Them Days" satisfies like a high-five: a satisfying victory despite the stumbles that led to it.
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