Remember when comedies used to just be some funny people being funny? While streaming services still get their fair share of comedies, it’s rare nowadays that we share the communal experience of going to a theater to laugh over goofy antics and silly lines. The biggest comedies in theaters these days are films that are also comedies, like Deadpool & Wolverine is a superhero film that is also a comedy, The Fall Guy is an action film that’s also a comedy, etc. It starts to feel like being funny isn’t enough for movies to get a theatrical release nowadays.
But that’s what makes One of Them Days so refreshing: it feels like a comedy from back in the day when being funny was enough. Back when a comedy could just be Harry and Lloyd going on a road trip in Dumb and Dumber, Craig and Smokey hanging out on their porch in Friday, or Harold and Kumar trying to go to White Castle/Escape from Guantanamo Bay/Enjoy Christmas. And while One of Them Days doesn’t quite hit the heights of those comedy classics, it is a welcome reminder of an era of comedy that we certainly need more of these days.
What Is ‘One of Them Days’ About?

Keke Palmer stars as Dreux, an excellent waitress at a Norms diner with aspirations of becoming a corporate manager at her own Norms. Her roommate, Alyssa (SZA), is an unemployed artist who always believes things will work themselves out. Also living with the pair is Alyssa’s no-good boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), who causes this duo plenty of trouble when he takes Dreux and Alyssa’s rent money to start his own T-shirt brand, known as Cucci.
Dreux and Alyssa’s landlord Uche (Rizi Timane) says if they don’t pay the rent in their falling-apart apartment by the end of the day, their stuff is going to be out on the street — especially since Uche is trying to bring in new white tenants, like the friendly Bethany (Maude Apatow). To make matters worse, Dreux has her interview to become a corporate manager, all while they try to find enough money to keep a roof over their head. In the course of one day, Dreux and Alyssa will give blood, experience the nightmare of payday loans, and run away from terrifying gangsters to make their dreams come true and not end up homeless.
Keke Palmer and SZA Are Delightful Together in ‘One of Them Days’

Image via IMDB

Like those throwback comedies, One of Them Days is elevated by its two stars, and Keke Palmer and SZA have great chemistry together. Palmer has been great in films like Hustlers and Nope, but here, she gets to show off her comedic chops, and she truly delivers. Simply watching her reactions in their plight is enough to elicit laughs throughout. From the minute we’re introduced to her, charming every single table at the diner she works at, we’re immediately on her side, and it’s hard not to root for her.
In her first major film role, SZA also holds her own as Alyssa, a great foil to Dreux, and unintentionally causes problems along the way. SZA matches Palmer’s energy nicely. While we might wonder why Dreux might hang around with someone for so long that causes so many problems, Alyssa’s optimism and ability to raise her friend up makes it clear both of them need the other to get by. It’s a match that isn’t without its problems, for sure, but together, we know everything will be okay. Even when not much is going on in One of Them Days, this combo will put a smile on your face.
One of Them Days often can feel like it’s hopping from one cameo to the next, but by utilizing the perfect actors to fill these roles and have fun doing it, it’s by no means a problem. Apatow is charming as Bethany, who doesn’t seem to understand why it’s strange to everyone else that she’s moving into an entirely Black apartment complex. Patrick Cage is wonderful as Dreux’s love interest Maniac, who might be just her type or… he might be an actual maniac. Janelle James, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Keyla Monterroso Mejia, and Lil Rel Howery also make the most of their short time on screen, but it’s Katt Williams as Lucky who is the real scene-stealer, always begging these two women to heed his warnings, like to avoid loans and not to steal Jordans thrown over electrical wires.
‘One of Them Days’ Hits on Bigger Topics in This Comedic Adventure

Image via Teen Vogue

First-time director Lawrence Lamont makes this film pop with vibrant colors even in the seediest parts of this endeavor. From their crumbling apartment in The Jungles to the drive-thru of a Church’s Chicken, One of Them Days manages to look quite nice, even in the least aesthetically pleasing places. Lamont also does a solid job of keeping this story moving forward, complete with a ticking clock and ensuring we get out of each scene before we start to feel its length. This movie moves at a clip and looks good while doing it.
Also well-handled is the script by Syreeta Singleton, who has previously written on shows like Insecure and Rap Sh!t. Not only are these scenarios often hilarious, but Singleton is also injecting slight commentary throughout about people who want to break the cycle of going paycheck to paycheck. For example, when one of their attempts at money goes awry, they jump out of an ambulance so they don’t have to pay the bill (don’t worry, they managed to get their information beforehand). Their first few plans of getting quick money — selling blood and getting a payday loan — certainly go to extremes, but work because they’re based on the sad reality of how this is an easy and tragic way to get money for those struggling. Singleton’s script also hits on topics of gentrification, unfair landlord practices, and struggling to make ends meet, yet still manages to keep the comedy at the forefront.
One of Them Days might not necessarily be a great comedy, but it’s absolutely the type of comedy we should see more of in theaters nowadays. Palmer and SZA are a delight, and Lamont and Singleton’s work elevates what could be just a silly comedy into something more. One of Them Days starts the 2025 movie season out on a positive note, and we could definitely use more movies like this in the theaters.
One of Them Days is now playing in theaters.

One of The Days is a delightful comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA that feels like a welcome throwback.

Pros

The chemistry between Keke Palmer and SZA is electric and always fun.
Lawrence Lamont and Syreeta Singleton elevate this into more than just a standard comedy.
This ensemble is packed with brilliantly placed cameos and great casting choices.

Cons

The humor and the larger topics that are only touched on could hit a bit harder.

Release Date

January 17, 2025

Director

Lawrence Lamont

Cast

Keke Palmer
, Sza
, Maude Apatow
, Lil Rel Howery
, Janelle James
, Katt Williams
, Vanessa Bell Calloway
, Keyla Monterroso Mejia
, Joshua Neal
, Aziza Scott
, Patrick Cage
, Dewayne Perkins
, Amin Joseph
, Gabrielle Dennis
, Dominique Perry

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