By: Kimberly Grant
We’ve all had one of those days. It’s a day that you can’t wait to be over because everything seems like it’s going wrong and you can’t catch a break. The kind of day that gets songs written about it because it’s just that taxing. And, now there’s a movie to commiserate that “one of them days” feeling.
One of Them Days will be in theaters starting January 17.
When The Rent is Due
One of Them Days is like an ode to the Friday movie franchise with a fresh, female update. On its own, One of Them Days stands out as a female buddy film in the vein of Bridesmaids, Joy Ride, and Girls Trip. Screenwriter Syreeta Singleton tells the story of Alyssa (played by SZA also known as “Solána Imani Rowe”) and Dreux (Keke Palmer) who are women on a hustle. They’re working hard in their craft and trying to stay afloat in The Jungles apartment complex in Los Angeles where rent is high and their landlord is terrible at keeping up his own buildings.
Dreux and Alyssa are trying their best to earn a living in their chosen careers and pay their rent on time. On this particular day, the first of the month, their rent is due. Unfortunately, Alyssa has trusted her bum of a boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), to pay their landlord, Uche (Rizi Timane), instead of doing it herself. To be expected, their rent money does not make it to Uche. And, now they have to scramble and hustle in order to keep themselves from being evicted.
Movie Debuts
After demonstrating her writing talents for television, Singleton has crafted a film that speaks to women and people who are looking for inspiration in their hustle. For Singleton, who was a writer for Black Monday, Central Park, and Insecure, and a showrunner for Rap Sh!t, One of Them Days is her first produced feature length script. This debut is a good one. The story is well-written and the characters are clearly fleshed out. Of course, some of the credit for this goes to the actresses who play the lead characters and the director.
Directing his first feature film, Lawrence Lamont, pays homage to movies like Friday and Bridesmaids and TV shows like Insecure. Lamont, who has directed episodes of Rap Sh!t, helps bring Alyssa and Dreux to life as true friends on a mission. One of Them Days feels gritty but looks fun without being tiresome. It’s not slap stick funny. It’s real-world funny in a way that any audience member can relate. If you’re rich, you can relate to the friendship between Alyssa and Dreux. If you don’t have millions in the bank, then you can relate to their friendship and their hustle.
This also marks SZA’s acting debut. For being in her first movie role, SZA does a pretty good job. In SZA’s portrayal of Alyssa, she is a great friend who’s terrible with her timing. She’s also quite artistic and destined to be a celebrated artist if she could just encourage herself the same way she encourages her friends. SZA also has great friend chemistry with Palmer.
Palmer is not new to starring in a movie. After all, she was Akeelah in Akeelah and the Bee. All grown up, Palmer has grown into a great actress, producer, and soon-to-be author. She gives Dreux life as a woman whose ambition is to go from being a waitress to being a franchise manager. What’s so great about Dreux is that she’s not just waiting around for anyone to discover her talent. She’s pushing forward to make it happen with the right skills and experience. Dreux is an inspiration to her friends and the people around her. Unfortunately, the people around her also contribute to her struggle to achieve her goals, but in a comedic way.
Come For the Laughs And Stay For The Cameos
If you haven’t guessed already, One of Them Days is a great movie. It’s funny. It reminds you of your best friends. And, it gives you inspiration to achieve your dreams no matter what obstacles come your way, which feels like a bigger message than the Friday films. I make this comparison because there are some parallels. Dreux and Alyssa have to face the neighborhood bully, Big Booty Berniece (Aziza Scott), and have a crush on the neighborhood cutie, Maniac (Patrick Cage). Set with the backdrop of Black Los Angeles and its cultural significance.
On its own merit, One of Them Days is destined to be an instant classic. The cameos in One of Them Days do not disappoint either. Katt Williams plays Lucky, a homeless man who is trying to keep Alyssa and Dreux from making bigger mistakes than they already have. Abbott Elementary’s Janelle James plays a Nurse Ruby and Keyla Monterroso Mejia plays Kathy, a payday advance loan officer. Vanessa Bell Calloway is maternal figure, Mama Ruth. Lil Rel Howery is a sneaker head who’s also on his hustle. Gabrielle Dennis is Shayla, an interviewer. And, Judd Apatow’s daughter, Maude, is new neighbor Bethany.
Unfortunately, one of the producers of the film did not make a cameo. Issa Rae, whose Hoorae Media company is one of the producers of the film. Rae is truly inspiring in her drive to succeed and help others to succeed. One of Them Days started as a project of the CoCre Lab at Sony Pictures, which sources and incubates emerging, diverse screenwriters to develop and write their first original film script and get it to screen.
Talented & Beautifully Shot
One of Them Days, representing a first for its writer, director, and one of its stars, is a great film. It’s a modern-day take on films like Friday with a feminine update that makes it feel fresh. It’s an entertaining and engaging ode to female friendships and an honest hustle with Black Los Angeles culture as a beautiful backdrop.
Missed a review? You can read more reviews written by Kimberly Grant here.
