Keke Palmer (left) and SZA (right) star in “One of Them Days” (Photo Credit: Sony Pictures).
(“One of Them Days” trailer courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment)
The movie “Friday” achieved legendary status because of the comedic genius of legends like Chris Tucker, John Witherspoon, Bernie Mac, Faizon Love and A.J. Johnson.
The screenplay for “Friday” was allegedly short by industry standards with the comedians improvising many of the classic scenes.
But what if a writer could combine the storyline of “Friday” with clever comedy and current pop culture?
The result of the combination would be “One of Them Days,” a new hood classic, which contains elements of the classic movie, “Friday.”
In “One of Them Days,” Dreux (Keke Palmer) is not mad at her life and her current career.
However, she sees more for herself.
Dreux works at a local Los Angeles diner where her customers have become like family.
One of the old ladies who is a regular customer even tries to play matchmaker for Dreux, by convincing her to date her grandson.
She believes that Dreux and her grandson would be the perfect couple.
And her biggest selling point is that her grandson looks just like media mogul Tyler Perry.
Regardless, Dreux does not have a man.
And she definitely does not have Perry’s money.
Dreux and her roommate/bestie Alyssa (SZA) live paycheck to paycheck in an old, dilapidated apartment in the hood, with no air conditioning and a collapsing ceiling.
Alyssa is a struggling artist with no consistent income.
However, Alyssa has something that Dreux does not have.
The starving artist has a car, and Dreux would have difficulty getting to her nine-to-five without her best friend.
Despite her career being in a rut, Dreux has some things to look forward to.
She can possibly get into her diner’s managerial program, even without having a college degree.
It is the beginning of a new month.
And even though her apartment in “The Jungles” is not immaculate, it is a roof over her head.
Many residents of “The Jungles” find themselves evicted and on the side of the road on the first of the month.
But Dreux does not have to worry about that, at least for this month, because she gave Alyssa her portion of the rent and her roomie said that she gave their landlord Uche (Rizi Timane) their payment earlier in the day.
Or did she?
Honestly, Alyssa probably cannot remember what she did a minute ago because she is lost in love with her loser of a boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal).
Keshawn has no money.
He has no home of his own.
He does nothing but collect sneakers and think of his next hustle, like his fledgling clothing line, Cucci.
Keshawn defines the words user and freeloader.
And Alyssa defines the word sprung.
So, when Uche informs Dreux that their rent has not gotten paid and that they have until the end of the day to make payment, one can only guess where the rent money went.
No worries though because desperate times call for desperate measures.
Real hustlers will always find a way to make money in the hood.
The girls just have a limited time to do so.
They could make money by giving their blood at a blood bank.
The only problem might be a nurse who is working her first day at the blood bank after a career in exotic dancing.
The girls could take out a payday loan.
However, the interest rates could be predatory and Dreux’s credit might actually be the lowest credit score of all time.
Or they could try selling items online.
But what happens when Dreux and Alyssa run into the modern-day Deebo in Berniece (Aziza Scott)?
Regardless, Dreux must find a way to pay her rent and still get to her interview for the coveted area manager position at the diner’s corporate office or else.
What could possibly go wrong?
Movie critics do not often write about casting in a comedy.
But the casting is perfect for all the actors and actresses in “One of Them Days.”
Palmer is ideal for the quirky and innocent Dreux.
R&B singer SZA is perfect for the eccentric artist, Alyssa.
Comedy giant Katt Williams is faultless as the wise older man, Lucky.
Williams is arguably the most popular stand-up comedian in the game thanks to his sheer talent, morals and wisdom as seen in his 2024 viral interview on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast with Shannon Sharpe.
His character Lucky is that sage old man in the hood dropping wisdom and knowledge to the younger generation.
While comedies like “One of Them Days” are not necessarily known for dropping science, that is exactly what Lucky does.
Lost in all the comedy excellence is the lessons of financial literacy.
Urban areas are inundated with payday loan companies with their predatory interest rates.
However, when people are struggling to eat, sometimes they must make temporary decisions that have a lifetime of consequences.
In “One of Them Days,” Lucky is the character who wants others to learn from his mistakes.
Additionally, “One of Them Days” proves how a costly mistake might be the best thing to ever happen to a person because pressure busts pipes.
The worst day in Dreux and Alyssa’s lives could become the day that propels them to the next level in life, thanks to an interesting spin on old-school rent parties.
Another aspect of “One of Them Days” that propels the movie is the additional supporting cast members like Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”) and Maude Apatow.
Like all comedies, “One of Them Days” can be silly and a little stereotypical at times.
However, that might not stop “One of Them Days” from possibly reaching legendary status like its predecessor “Friday.”
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
