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‘One of Them Days’ Review: Keke Palmer and SZA Make a Dynamic Duo

Keke Palmer and SZA are eclectic in this new buddy comedy produced by Issa Rae.

‘One of Them Days’ Review: Keke Palmer and SZA Make a Dynamic Duo

Every film Keke Palmer stars in stands as a reminder of her natural star power and infectious charisma. She lights up the screen, making every character instantly likable and deeply relatable. One of Them Days has the actress starring as Dreux, a hard-working waitress in search of a better, higher-paying job. After entrusting the responsibility of handing in the rent to her eccentric best friend, Alyssa, the two are left scrambling to make the money up before six after Alyssa’s deadbeat boyfriend steals it. Trouble ensues, and obstacles present themselves, which lead the characters to question if they will have a place to sleep that night and still be friends by the end of the day. 

The most vital ingredient for a successful buddy comedy like this is the chemistry between the two leads. Luckily, SZA and Palmer have a dynamic back and forth that makes the main relationship feel lived in and authentic. SZA was especially surprising to me since it was up in the air whether she would be able to keep up with the endlessly entertaining Palmer. SZA not only keeps up but matches Palmer’s energy in an exciting manner. These women understand the commitment needed for every bit and riff off each other perfectly. Palmer and SZA are the main reasons for seeing the film. 

One of Them Days / Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures

The film is produced by Issa Rae, best known for her hit show Insecure. It was also written by one of the writers of said show, Syreeta Singleton. I would say if you love Insecure, then you would most likely enjoy One of Them Days just as much. It is the same type of humor, yet One of Them Days includes more physical gags. The film is well-written and has a sharp screenplay that surprises and delivers many laughs. The short runtime also does the film justice, leaving no space for the film to feel repetitive or slow. With this, the film also achieves a compelling story outside of the gags. The relationship between the women is amplified by the performances, and by the end, you are begging for everything to work out for them. It is refreshing to see a comedy care equally about the dramatic aspects along with the comedic ones. 

The only negative is that, like most comedies, it is quite forgettable. It was an entertaining time in the theater, but no future classic. Frankly, I did not expect this from the film, so I was never disappointed and delightfully surprised by the film’s humor. I will say I think it is very important to go and support the film because Black-led female comedies are all too rare. My only hope is that this film will do well and have more inventive films of its kind to follow. The film is very good but is not a new favorite and will ultimately be forgotten by the end of the year. If you are in the mood for an escapist, expertly acted comedy, then One of Them Days will do the trick.

One of Them Days / Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures

One of Them Days is just another reminder that Keke Palmer should be a bigger star. After Jordan Peele’s Nope, it should have been evident that Palmer should have taken over the industry, and this film just reinforces that. As I said before, SZA is a delightful surprise who pulls her weight in the main duo. I recommend gathering all your friends and heading to the theater to see this fun, but ultimately unrevolutionary, film. 

Sony Pictures’ One of Them Days is the directorial debut of Lawrence Lamont and hit theaters on January 17th. The film stars Keke Palmer as Dreux, SZA as Alyssa, Vanessa Bell Calloway as Mama Ruth, Lil Rel Hower as The Buyer, Katt William as Lucky, Maude Apatow as Bethany, Patrick Cage as Maniac, Gabrielle Dennis as Shayla, and Janelle James as Ruby.

Located in Chicago, Illinois. Leah is working on getting her degree in Marketing at the University of Illinois Chicago. For Feature First, she writes articles and reviews, all of which have to do with film. Her main interests include collecting physical media, watching old Hollywood cinema, and predicting every awards season months in advance.