Best Friends in a Money Crisis: Can They Save Their Home in Just 9 Hours?

In “One of Them Days,” a female buddy comedy, Dreux and Alyssa find themselves in a tight spot and urgently need funds. These two are not just friends, but roommates as well, living under the same roof. This unique film is directed by Lawrence Lamont, who is making his feature directorial debut, and its screenplay is written by Syreeta Singleton, another first-time feature screenwriter. Despite the movie’s imperfections, it showcases two promising new talents in the film industry who seem poised for great things in the future.

In “One of Those Days,” the film derives much of its humor from an outstanding ensemble cast. Keke Palmer portrays Dreux and SZA plays Alyssa, and their lively dynamic is crucial to the movie’s success. Dreux is a diligent waitress preparing for a franchise manager job interview, while Alyssa, an ambitious artist, grapples with gaining recognition for her work. They reside in a shared Los Angeles apartment with Alyssa’s unmotivated sneaker-loving boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua Neal).

In a tough situation, Dreux and Alyssa encounter trouble when Keshawn steals their rent money and vanishes. Desperate for more time, they appeal to their strict landlord, Rizi Timane, who grants them just nine hours to settle their rent or face eviction by 6PM. This predicament sparks a fast-paced journey across town as the friends frantically search for Keshawn, only to discover he squandered their money. Realizing they need to come up with $1500 before the deadline, they embark on a race against time in order to avoid homelessness.

One of Those Days” features an amusing assortment of secondary characters, ranging from residents in Dreux and Alyssa’s apartment building to a diverse group of individuals they encounter around town. Some characters inject humor like the annoying loan officer, Kathy (Keyla Monterroso Mejia), the self-proclaimed street sage, Lucky (Katt Williams), and their clueless white neighbor, Bethany (Maude Apatow). However, a few of these characters can sometimes be overly stereotyped to the point of being one-dimensional caricatures.

In terms of the humor, this movie certainly provides some genuine moments that had me chuckling out loud, and there’s a sprinkling of witty dialogue throughout. However, not everything hits the mark – some awkwardly raunchy scenes and a few instances of slapstick that just didn’t resonate. Yet, Palmer and SZA skillfully keep the comedic elements afloat, balancing the tone effectively whether they’re acting separately or together. They both seem to have a keen understanding of what the filmmakers were aiming for.

The film’s climax and conclusion are excessively dramatic and overly neat, which is unfortunate since it slightly lessens the impact of its earlier, stronger scenes. However, it doesn’t entirely negate the excellent performances by Palmer and SZA or the potential shown by Lamont and Singleton – two rising talents who deserve attention as they continue to grow in their careers.

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2025-02-03 18:56