(L to R) Keke Palmer and SZA in Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo by Anne Marie Fox.
Opening in theaters on January 17th, ‘One of Them Days’ features two knockout performances from Keke Palmer and in an impressive film lead debut, SZA. Yet the movie around them is sadly not always worthy of their commitment.
Full of weird, pantomime performances, the ramshackle plot is perfectly serviceable as a ticking-clock quest-meets-hangout comedy, but not much more than that.
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(L to R) SZA and Keke Palmer in Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Sometimes dipping into annoying cliches in search of relatable nuggets of life experience, ‘One of Them Days’ struggles to completely balance its tone, preferring to dive further and further into farce as the situation deepens. And while we use the word “deepens,” that doesn’t really describe what actually happens here –– it just ratchets up the madness in the hopes of making you laugh.
How much you do actually find yourself chuckling might depend on your tolerance for actors shouting in lieu of a performance –– which we suppose comes with the territory when there is only limited time to spend with the supporting ensemble and everyone beyond Palmer and SZA are just trying to make an exception.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Director Lawrence Lamont, Producer Issa Rae and Keke Palmer on the set of Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo by Anne Marie Fox.
Syreeta Singleton, a veteran of Issa Rae’s TV shows including ‘Insecure’ and ‘Rap Sh!t’ (Rae is a producer here), Singleton’s script largely does justice to the two main characters, while many of the others feel like they’ve wandered in from a sketch. Indeed, the whole structure of the story feels episodic, or like that of a video game, with Palmer and SZA going through different levels of difficulty to achieve their aims.
The screenplay does at least also offer the leading pair a cheery, challenged friendship that feels authentic even if the events around them are cartoonish. Palmer’s Dreux is an ambitious young woman who dreams of running her own restaurant franchise, while SZA’s Alyssa is a flightier artist struggling to make ends meet and obsessed with boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua Neal), who is particularly blessed in one department (hint: it’s not brains). You empathize with their struggle and they’re charming enough as a duo to keep the story moving.
Director Lawrence Lamont on the set of Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures and Anne Marie Fox.
Director Lawrence Lamont has his own Rae connection thanks to ‘Rap Sh!t,’ but is better known as a music video helmer for the likes of Big Sean and J.Cole.
His visual style here is unfussy, helping to move the story along, but he doesn’t quite make everything about the movie work. The performances are, as we mentioned above, a mixed bag.
‘One of Them Days’: Performances
This is most certainly Keke Palmer and SZA’s movie, with one or two other notable turns.
Keke Palmer as Dreux
Palmer has consistently proved she’s someone who can have chemistry with a wall if needed, her natural charm shining through the role and her comic timing on full display here.
She’s an able physical comedian, but more importantly, can keep the character intact as all around her becomes abject chaos.
(L to R) Keke Palmer and SZA in Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.
SZA as Alyssa
SZA, more normally found as a successful recording artist (the vast majority of her film credits so far have been on soundtracks), is the big surprise here, making a truly impressive debut, bringing spirited life to Alyssa and meshing well with Palmer.
She’s believably goofy while also coming across as more than a human cartoon.
Lil Rel Howery as The Buyer
Howery is a reliable comedy performer, though here he has limited opportunity to show what he can do, showing up for one scene (albeit a memorable one).
Keyla Monterroso Mejia as Kathy
The payday loan company worker who handles Dreux and Alyssa’s application for money makes a real impact with her freewheeling, sarcastic turn, one of the few characters who is both manic but also truly entertaining.
Katt Williams as Lucky
Williams plays the seemingly homeless, debt-ridden type who tries to warn our main characters to stay well away from the Payday loan business. It’s a small supporting role, but Williams has fun with it.
Maude Apatow in Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Maude Apatow as Bethany
Apatow’s character is essentially a plot device and a one-note joke; the naive white woman who moves into Dreux and Alyssa’s apartment building in LA’s Baldwin Hills area and who ultimately helps them in their quest for cash.
Joshua Neal as Keshawn
Neal’s Keshawn, a wannabe entrepreneur with little idea how to make money (but plenty of ways to spend it) is a gun little role that compliments Palmer and SZA’s characters even if he comes across more a caricature than an actual person.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) SZA and Keke Palmer in Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo by Anne Marie Fox.
‘One of Them Days’ never quite approaches the standards of classic comedies such as the ‘Friday’ movies, but it’s amiable enough to keep the laughs flowing, anchored by two solid lead performances.
Fans of Issa Rae’s TV work will be satisfied enough, even if nothing here has the room to develop the way a series’ storylines can. Just don’t expect more than silly comedy here.
‘One of Them Days’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
Best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa are about to have One of Them Days. When they discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds… Read the Plot
What’s the plot of ‘One of Them Days’?
When best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) discover Alyssa’s boyfriend (Joshua Neal) 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.
Who is in the cast of ‘One of Them Days’?
(L to R) Keke Palmer and SZA in Tri-Star Picture’s ‘One of Them Days’. Photo by Anne Marie Fox.