With 2025 right here, it’s certainly one other yr the place we’ll see massive display heroes cease the world from ending and different widespread film issues. However isn’t it refreshing each every now and then when the excessive stakes characters are dealing with are on a regular basis, relatable issues? Paying hire is a standard expense many people take care of, however what if you happen to had simply eight hours to make that cash?
One Of Them Days
Launch Date: January 17, 2025
Directed By: Lawrence Lamont
Written By: Syreeta Singleton
Starring: Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Maude Apatow, and Katt Williams
Score: R for language all through, sexual materials and temporary drug use
Runtime: 97 minutes
That is the story of director Lawrence Lamont’s One Of Them Days: When the primary of the month comes alongside and two longtime mates dwelling in south Los Angeles as roommates understand their hard-earned money has been stolen, they stress round their neighborhood to search out fast methods to earn their a refund, and it spirals into an more and more hilarious misadventure. Whereas it might be type of the worst day ever for its predominant characters, it’s merely a good time on the motion pictures to take a seat again and chuckle alongside to this vibrant and savvy new comedy.
One Of Them Days not solely has a real-world battle, it has the star energy of Keke Palmer and a shining debut out of Grammy-winning artist SZA to its identify. (What can’t she do?) It additionally serves because the characteristic debuts for 2 skills from HBO’s Rap Sh!t, together with Lamont and Syreeta Singleton, who’s credited together with her first characteristic screenplay (because of producer Issa Rae elevating up these names). Genuinely, One Of Them Days begins the brand new yr off with a robust comedy value spending a woman’s day trip on.
Keke Palmer And SZA have a ton of chemistry enjoying greatest mates who’re down on their luck.
Let’s be sincere right here: from the skin trying in, it may appear to be a little bit of a stunt casting to have SZA paired with Keke Palmer, contemplating the chart-topping singer/songwriter has by no means starred in a film earlier than, however seeing these two collectively is electrical. Palmer performs Dreux, a waitress who’s hoping to show round her life by nailing an interview – however her highly-anticipated appointment is stained by an sincere mistake made by her go-with-the-flow roommate Alyssa (SZA). She provides her shady boyfriend – who has been dwelling at no cost of their condominium for months – the hire handy off to the owner, and as soon as they understand the cash hasn’t gone the place it was imagined to go, Alyssa’s man is all of a sudden and conveniently nowhere to be discovered.
In some methods, Palmer and SZA play into the basic opposites appeal to dynamic we regularly see in buddy comedies, however they fortunately chart their very own path with it too. It’s energizing to see the film not get too trope-y with their relationship, as Palmer strays away from merely being the straight man. The established star’s expertise serves One Of Them Days effectively as she evokes massive laughs, however SZA exhibits she will be able to go toe-to-toe together with her together with her efficiency. The Grammy-winner leans into her tremendous cool persona she’s already amassed together with her music profession as Alyssa, however fortunately finds a solution to make her character genuine relatively than being simplified into “the dumb one” or being overshadowed by Palmer.
Lawrence Lamont brings a light-weight, fashionable strategy to his characteristic debut that makes the Los Angeles setting its personal character.
Watching One Of Them Days looks like listening to an ideal and fabulous story between two greatest mates who’re all the time stepping into one thing come what may each time you see them, and that’s that. There is not any tremendous intelligent twist or bigger commentary wanted; it’s only a enjoyable romp all over. The primary-time director makes use of his eye and sensibilities not solely to deliver out some enjoyable performances from Keke Palmer and SZA, however a gifted supporting forged together with Abbott Elementary’s Janelle James and Katt Williams.
Moreover, Lamont makes the Los Angeles neighborhood setting of Baldwin Village (aka “The Jungles”) itself a personality in a manner that looks like a loving parody and homage on the similar time. And undoubtedly appears to be impressed by ’90s flicks like Friday or Do The Proper Factor. Though its shot between rundown condominium complexes, quick meals hen joints, parks and strip malls, the manufacturing presents a vibrant and jovial visible aesthetic to the town to match the levity of the film’s tone, regardless of the dramatic occasions at play.
There is a no nonsense pacing in regards to the 97-minute comedy, but it surely welcomes you into its world. One Of Them Days has an easy slice-of-life high quality about it too, the place you’re being let into inside jokes whereas additionally being supplied a comforting perspective that encourages viewers to have enjoyable and benefit from the thrills of the continued hijinks.
One Of Them Days flies by with a enjoyable comedy premise that could be a vibrant spot for the style.
Whether or not or not it’s Dreux and Alyssa assembly the primary and solely white neighbor on the town, signing up for a blood financial institution to get some further money or attempting to get a fast mortgage from “Pay Every time,” One Of Them Days by no means takes itself significantly and thrives that manner. One of many extra silly sections of the film entails Dreux and Alyssa being hunted down by a personality that just about overstays their welcome within the storyline contemplating the laughs there run dry fairly fast. And, when the third act comes round, the storyline all of a sudden goes from the pair tackling one massive drawback to having to face off in opposition to a bigger villain that may appear to come back out of left discipline for the viewer. Whereas at first it may well really feel like a plot level that has been shoehorned in to lift the stakes, it in the end makes One Of Them Days higher and provides much more humorous moments to the movie’s finale. In the end, the film makes good use of a majority of its characters and comedy beats by coming again round to every of them by the point the film ends.
At a time the place it’s not widespread anymore to see a mid-budget comedy in theaters (not to mention see these kinds of movies get made generally), One Of Them Days takes issues again to the nice outdated days by delivering on a light-hearted, good temper of a film, and it makes a valiantly good-natured and entertaining effort within the marketing campaign to deliver again the comedy style to the massive display.