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“One of Them Days” Has Throwback Charm

Written by: Hannah Tran | January 16th, 2025

One of Them Days (Lawrence Lamont, 2025) 3½ out of 5 stars

One of Them Days is one of the rare bright spots in the oft-dreary moviegoing month of January. A classic female buddy-comedy, it follows the misadventures of two best friends and roommates: Dreux, a career-oriented go-getter, and Alyssa, a free-spirited artist. Together, they embark on a wild journey through South Los Angeles to clamber together enough money for rent by the end of the day. As everything that could go wrong inevitably does, Keke Palmer (Nope) and SZA, in her screen debut, give two absolutely firecracker performances that will have you longing for your best friend.

As Dreux, Keke Palmer is absolutely delightful, hitting all her character’s quirks, charm, and emotion in all the right places. SZA is also a pleasant surprise and feels like a total natural in front of the camera. The two of them together, though, is the real joy of the movie, as their chemistry feels so effortlessly real. The supporting cast is equally fun, with great moments from Dewayne Perkins (The Blackening), Janelle James (Hulu’s Abbott Elementary series), Maude Apatow (The King of Staten Island), and an especially hilarious performance from Katt Williams as a completely unasked for semi-fairy godmother.

l-r: Keke Palmer and SZA in ONE OF THEM DAYS ©Tristar Pictures/Sony Picturess

The best part of all these performances is that they fully give into the unabashed absurdity of the story. One of Them Days doesn’t shy away from a little dumb humor and everyone embraces the fast-talking dialogue and physical comedy. While not every bit lands, there are plenty of great lines and more than enough ridiculous characters and scenes, such as a biscuit burglar or a predatory money-lending company, that make it work.

Like many comedies of its kind, it’s difficult for One of Them Days to sustain the up-and-down suspense, and the end makes some tired attempts to inject more drama. It is therefore difficult for the movie to avoid an overly convenient solution. Still, the characters are fun enough to watch that it still manages to entertain even when the script is slacking.

Maude Apatow in ONE OF THEM DAYS ©Tristar Pictures/Sony Pictures

One of Them Days feels reminiscent of the simple buddy-comedies of the ‘90s and early-‘00s. It may not be doing anything too new, but it does it well. And while it’s silly and just a little raunchy, the endearing central friendship, surprise romance, and outrageous cast of characters give it a sweet streak of sincerity.

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Hannah Tran is a filmmaker, writer, and friendly neighborhood barista from Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Film and English and is currently working on her first feature film. In her spare time, she can be found attending film festivals, running a local book club, and, of course, devouring as many movies as possible.

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