ONE OF THEM DAYS – Review

So what’s the cinema antidote to the brutal and frozen tundra outside our doors (and let’s not get into the West Coast)? How about a raunchy, rollicking buddy comedy? Hmm, that’s usually Summer popcorn fodder, but that’s not the only “rule” that this new flick is breaking. Rather than two mismatched male comic actors, this focuses on the friendship (though strained at times) of two twenty-something African American women. That’s a nice “flip”, along with the pairing of a screen “vet” and a star from the world of hip hop (and R&B/pop). Now that’s a combo sure to end those winter doldrums, along with its “Cali” backdrop. So that’s the setting, as the principals frantically try to survive a zany twenty-four hours that certainly qualifies as ONE OF THEM DAYS that will put their bond to the test.

It’s the morning of the first day of the month, and the head waitress at one of those family diner-style chain restaurants, Dreux (Keke Palmer) is making sure her staple of longtime “regulars” are enjoying their breakfast. When her shift ends, Dreux waits for a ride from her BFF/roommate, struggling artist/painter Alyssa (SZA) to pick her up and return to their shared apartment. Later that afternoon Dreux will have what could be a life-changing interview at the corporate HQ of the eatery chain, in hopes of snagging a a manager spot at a location. After saying hello to several of the neighbors, more like surrogate “aunties” and “uncles”, they head into their upstairs (above the courtyard) unit, where Alyssa’s hunky but between jobs and homes bae, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), is snoozing. Suddenly there’s someone pounding on the door. It’s the no-nonsense landlord Uche (Rizi Timane) demanding the $1500 rent (it is the first) from Dreux, otherwise their furnishings will be on the street at 6 PM. When he leaves, Dreux double-checks that Alyssa has already given him their combined rent amount. Sure, she gave the cash to Keshawn to give to Uche. The duo tries to confront him, but Keshawn has split. Through the “gossip grapevine,” they find out about his “side girl”, the aggressive, always angry Berniece (Aziza Scott). At her place Alyssa grills Keshawn about the dough, but he’s already “invested” it. Then Berniece barges in and makes Alyssa and Dreux her target for revenge. Can the desperate duo raise the rent by six? And will Dreux make it to that big interview? And what happens when the BFFs incur the wrath of a brutal crime kingpin named King Lolo (Armin Joseph)? The clock is ticking as they wonder what else can go wrong…

The film soars on the effervescent energy of the two lead actresses. First off, the vet I mentioned is Palmer who builds on the street-smart, slightly manic persona we saw in supporting roles in NOPE and HUSTLERS. Her Dreux is the quick-thinking brain of the duo, always creating a new angle (or line of BS) to try and succeed. And yet she has an endearingly awkward quality as she tries to flirt with a new neighbor in an early scene. Palmer also has a “clown’s grace” as she uses her body language to convey the chaos of this long day. Ms. Palmer is also an excellent scene partner with the confident and sassy SZA as Alyssa, and it’s amazing that this is her first major acting role, though she’s been featured in many music videos. Alyssa is the more spiritual of the two (“Gotta put it out in the universe!”), though SZA delivers some great profanity-filled tirades when not utilizing her zaftig charms (watch her work her “magic” on a food cart vendor). And though her head is often “in the clouds”, SZA displays a gutsy talent for slapstick comedy right from the classics (there’s a lot of Lucy and Ethel in these two “besties”). Neal is the perfect dimbulb but well-endowed “boy toy”, while Scott is a hard-twerking Tazmanian Devil, With a bit of Tex Cobb from RAISING ARIZONA as the “rageaholic” Berniece. There are also some great comic turns by Maude Apatow as the bubbly new tenant Bethany (who is the only white resident, much to Uchi’s delight), Katt Williams as the ironically-named street “prophet” Lucky, and Lil Rel Howery who figures in one of the big cash schemes.

Director Lawrence Lamont keeps the pace rolling along at a brisk clip while hitting all the playful dialogue exchanges of the duo provided by screenwriter Syretta Singleton. Lamont ups the suspense factor by slapping on reminders of the time passed with a bit of foreboding (“Six hours till eviction”) that reminded me of the 80s cult comedy THREE O’CLOCK HIGH, which had a similar sense of urgency. Yet, with all the calamity, Singleton delivers some smart satiric jabs at the “cash advance” industry, along with the warm feeling of community in the apartment complex (the “matriarch” there has set up a “mini 7-11” in her living room). Unfortunately, there is the frequent, for comedies, lull just past the hour mark as the buddy romp cliche has to include a big blow-up between the pals that threatens to split them up for good. Nah, I didn’t buy it because their bond feels impossible to break. And while many may feel that all the subplots get resolved too neatly, almost with a big sparkly bow, by the final moments, the laughs and the chemistry between Palmer and SZA are so strong and engaging, not to mention the great LA locales, that those small missteps are wiped clean by the high-spirited hijinks that fill up ONE OF THEM DAYS.

3 Out of 4

ONE OF THEM DAYS is now playing in theatres everywhere