If Friday and a bolder and blacker version of Thelma and Louise collided, One of Them Days is the offspring. A buddy film, One of Them Days centers around Dreux (Keke Palmer), an around-the way girl with the smarts, work ethic, intelligence and plan to make it out of the hood. Played brilliantly by Palmer, Dreux serves up a side of happiness and attentiveness customers need and deserve at a local diner while plotting her rise to the top. Dreux’s roommate Alyssa, played by music phenom SZA, is the opposite — a creative soul who is moved by energy and spirit, while stepping to the beat of her own drum. NaĂŻve and always seeing the positives in life, Alyssa makes a major mistake by giving their rent money to her slacker bae Keyshawn (Joshua David Neal), who is bringing Big D energy to her life, but little else. Thus, the women must figure out a way to get the rent money to a tyrannical landlord more concerned with gentrifying the building than keeping the tenants who have kept the building in play over the years.
Written by Syreeta Singleton (Insecure, Rap Shit, Central Park), One of Them Days does a great job of weaving important issues in Black communities like gentrification, predatory lending and barriers to upward mobility, into a story about a dynamic Black girl, trying to overcome her fate, one obstacle at a time. The film delivers strong performances by Palmer, SZA and Kat Williams, who plays Lucky, the neighborhood griot, giving voice to the significance and value of the unhoused. Singleton delves into the lives of the characters, showing what second chances look like, what it takes to make it out of the hood (sponsorship) and how often folks literally can’t get out of their way.
The film moves along at breakneck speed following the antics and crazy situations the roomies face while trying to raise this rent money, make it to a life-changing interview, and pay the no-nonsense, anti-Black American, pro-White American African landlord Uche (Rizi Tumane). They run into other characters along the way including Berniece the Bully (Aziza Scott), Ruby (Janelle James), the stripper-turned-plasma assistant, Kathy (Kayla Monterroso Mejia) the disrespectful predatory lender, a mentally unstable buyer (Lil Rel Howery) and King Lolo (Amin Joseph), a violent and raging O.G. They also encounter Shayla (Gabrielle Dennis), the around-the-way girl who made good, Mama Ruth (Vanessa Bell Calloway), Dreux’s entrepreneurial mother and Maniac (Patrick Cage), a former bad boy who is smitten with Dreux.  One of the film’s strengths is its ability to weave humor into moments of despair.
Directed by music video director turned television and film director Lawrence Lamont, One of Them Days is visually stunning, capturing the beauty of Los Angeles and showing the rich tapestry created by the Jungle, Baldwin Hills, Ladera Heights, Inglewood and other historically Black neighborhoods that have been historically underrepresented in film. Produced by Issa Rae, James Lopez and Keke Palmer, among others, One of Them Days tosses respectability politics out of the window capturing the complexity, creativity and resiliency of the working class. Through conversation and intertextual references, Lamont brings, “The Jungle” to life and filmically inserts it into the community of Black Los Angeles. The film’s pacing, which slows down just enough so audiences can learn more about the characters, helps viewers connect with their struggles and triumphs.
Featuring SZA, Saweetie, Tony K, Reem, Doja Cat, Latto, Offset, Ice Cube and more, the film’s soundtrack is infectious underscoring the action and adding to the good time appeal of the film.  Viewers will be bumping this soundtrack in cars, AirPods and Beats for years to come.
One of Them Days is a heartfelt film that captures the essence of life’s unpredictability through its rich character development and poignant storytelling. It invites audiences to reflect on their own lives and “one of them days” we all experience in some way or another. With strong performances, including SZA, beautiful cinematography, and a well-crafted narrative, One of Them Days is a must-see film that is destined for cult classic status. A thoughtful exploration of the human condition, One of Them Days is the antidote to the rough days ahead and the comedy film viewers didn’t know they needed.
One of Them Days opens in theaters today. Check local listings for showtimes.
This review was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder and editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Dr. Burton is an independent film and media scholar. Follow Nsenga on IG @Ntellectual or The Burton Wire.Â