One of Them Days

In what was undoubtedly one of the most exciting movements in the history of cinema, the early 1990s saw a generation of young Black filmmakers burst onto the scene. Some in the “Black New Wave” (as it was then called) made dramas, like John Singleton with Boyz N the Hood and Allen and Albert Hughes with Menace II Society. Others made comedies. Reginald Hudlin’s House Party and F. Gary Gray’s Friday are two particularly beloved examples. One of Them Days is a throwback to those comedies, which used silly humor to explore issues facing people living in the inner city.

Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (R&B singer SZA) are roommates on the verge of being kicked out of their apartment after the latter’s boyfriend absconds with their rent money. The landlord gives them until 6:00pm to pay. This is an unneeded stress for Dreux, who has a 4:00 job interview that, if she gets it, would end her financial problems. With little time to spare, the friends set out on a quest to earn some fast cash.

The movie mixes comedy and social commentary very well, thanks to a sharp screenplay by Syreeta Singleton (Insecure). It’s hilarious when Dreux and Alyssa visit one of those “instant loan” places and are mocked by a sarcastic employee, yet there’s truth in the idea that such businesses take advantage of those in need. Another sequence finds them desperately selling their blood at a blood bank – an act that goes wrong in an uproarious, gruesome way. Through the ladies’ comical exploits, One of Them Days makes a point about how the system almost intentionally tries to keep people from making it out of the inner city.

If the powers that be in Hollywood are smart, they’ll make Keke Palmer and SZA the next Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson or Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly. The two stars have dynamite chemistry that’s endlessly fun to watch. The way they feed off each other produces big laughs, especially as the scenarios Dreux and Alyssa face become more outrageous. You also feel the depth of the friendship between the two characters. Sometimes movie friends just seem to be thrown together randomly. Here are two young women whose bond comes off as genuine.

Palmer and SZA are backed by a fine supporting cast that includes Vanessa Bell Calloway as the “den mother” of the housing complex; Katt Williams as the neighborhood fixture who tries to warn them away from the “free cash” scheme; and Maude Apatow as the new white neighbor whose unit is unsurprisingly much better attended to by the landlord than their own. Apatow’s character, Bethany, serves a crucial satiric role. She also lives in the inner city but struggles far less because she’s white.

One of Them Days relies on a lot of unlikely coincidences to resolve its plot, from a businesswoman conveniently making an appearance at an unlikely event to a piece of broken ceiling falling at the precise moment to get our heroines out of danger. Although such contrivances are mildly lazy, they in no way damper the movie’s bigger pleasures. Palmer and SZA are a terrific pairing, and Lawrence Lamont’s energetic direction gives them plenty of room to shine.


out of four

One of Them Days is rated R for language throughout, sexual material, and brief drug use. The running time is 1 hour and 37 minutes.


© 2025 Mike McGranaghan