Film Review - One of Them Days

Keke Palmer and SZA are friends and flatmates desperate to avoid eviction in Lawrence Lamont’s enjoyable farcical comedy

Credit: Sony

One of Them Days is a title designed to annoy grammar pedants like yours truly, but it’s also an agreeably entertaining comedy confection. Energetically directed by Lawrence Lamont, from a screenplay by Syreeta Singleton, it centres around LA-based best pals and flatmates Dreux Jones (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (singer SZA making her screen debut). The film follows the pair on a hot, frenetic day as they attempt to dredge up overdue rent money before their dodgy landlord kicks them out.

Dreux is the more responsible of the pair, given her sterling work ethic and determination to better herself. She aspires to manage a restaurant rather than wait tables and has an interview that day that could make her dream reality. Unfortunately, Alyssa, a free-spirited aspiring artist who believes “the universe” is guiding her, is prone to weapons-grade stupidity, such as entrusting the rent money to her ne’er-do-well boyfriend, Keyshawn (Joshua Neal). He’s inserted himself into Alyssa’s rundown flat as well as her bed, with his request to stay six days turning into six months, much to Dreux’s irritation. She’s even more irritated when she learns Keyshawn has “invested” their rent money in his new T-shirt line, leaving them short and facing eviction.

Thus begins a frantic attempt to raise a four-figure dollar sum by the evening. Multiple farcical complications and set pieces ensue, many of them laugh-out-loud funny. I’m not sure I understood all the cultural reference points, but this still provoked plenty of guffaws. For instance, running gags involving a fast-food restaurant thief, a man called Lucky (Katt Williams) who spends his time protesting a particularly unscrupulous loan company, and the two-timing Keyshawn’s ferocious other girlfriend, Berniece (Aziza Scott), all contributed to moments of unadulterated sniggering from yours truly. Of course, comedy is subjective, but I love a good farce, and this is a well-plotted, satisfying, albeit foul-mouthed farce.

Both leads are fun to watch. The supporting cast also does well, including Patrick Cage as Dreux’s love interest, mysteriously named “Maniac”. His appearances provide another amusing subplot. It’s also worth noting Maud Apatow, who plays Bethany; a cheerful new white neighbour. Unlike Dreux and Alyssa’s flat, Bethany’s actually resembles what is advertised online, with working air conditioning and so forth. This and other minor commentaries on gentrification are present but without any Spike Lee-style tubthumping.

Lawrence Lamont and cinematographer Ava Berkofsky give the film an opulent, vibrant sheen, making great use of sun-drenched LA locations. Countdown captions to the various impending disasters — including the 6pm rent deadline and a subsequent deadline I won’t spoil — are deployed to enjoyable effect. I’ve not seen any of Lamont’s music videos, but on the strength of this feature debut, he could be a name to watch.

Certain over-the-top moments, such as a gross-out scene in a blood bank, and a later sequence involving local gangster boss King Lolo (Amin Joseph), might prove too ridiculous for some. However, I didn’t see a problem with the lunatic escalations of the finale. I thought they made the film even funnier. Ultimately, that’s all you really want from a comedy. This one comes with the bonus of a central duo whose predicament and friendship ups and downs make them easy to root for. No small achievement, considering how irritating SZA’s thoughtless character could have been in the wrong hands.

With all that in mind, I recommend One of Them Days with the caveat that whilst I laughed a lot, it won’t be for everyone.

(Originally published at Medium.)

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