Film: One of them Days
Cast: Keke Palmer, SZA, Joshua David Neal, Aziza Scott, Patrick Cage, Katt Williams, Maude Apatow, Vanessa Bell Calloway
Director: Lawrence Lamont
Rating: * * *
Runtime: 97 min.
Writer Syreeta Singleton and music video director Lawrence Lamont, making his feature debut, create a Black women’s buddy comedy that is light, funny and enjoyable. Keke Palmer and SZA are Dreux and Alyssa, best friends and roommates, who, after discovering that their rent money has been blown away by Alyssa`s boyfriend, find themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction. Will their friendship remain intact after all that brouhaha?
Dreux is a hard-working waitress looking to get a franchise manager position at a local restaurant joint. Alyssa is a talented artist. Alyssa’s boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal) blows their rent money on his ad hoc T-shirt business. Down-on-their-luck, the duo have to deal with a vengeful neighbourhood tyrant, loan sharks, blood banks, precarious love interests, evade an infamous killer and make sure Dreux can make it on time to her job interview within 24 hours.
Rookie director Lawrence Lamont makes it all look playful and silly. Dreux and Alyssa help each other and work through the tensions that crop up along the way. Reckless ingenuity carries the duo to their goal, along the way. Their hare-brained adventures induce anxiety and generate adrenaline rushes. Palmer and SZA generate a chemistry that is palpable. Both put in competent performances. Cameos from Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams, and Janelle James add to the amusement.
Singleton’s screenplay does pretty fine with the comedy but is lacking when it comes to emotive moments. Too many contrivances and exaggerations strain the narrative. The wry humour, though, is appreciable. The movie is likeable and inspires enough laughter to make your day.
