- Keke Palmer, SZA, Lil Rel Howery
- March 7th 2025
- 97
- Lawrence Lamont
Everything that can go wrong does go wrong in this comedy of errors.
Keke Palmer and SZA play best friends in a tricky financial situation in this buddy comedy.
Palmer and SZA play Dreux and Alyssa, best friends who live together in the Baldwin Village neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
Waitress Dreux is working hard to become a franchise manager of her diner while Alyssa is a laidback artist who has let her boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua Neal) move in.
On the day of Dreux’s interview, they discover Keshawn has disappeared with their rent money – and they have until the end of the day to pay it otherwise they’ll be evicted.
What ensues is a comedy of errors where everything that can go wrong does wrong. The besties come up with many ways to raise the cash, from donating blood to flogging vintage Nikes, all while being tracked down by Keshawn and his angry lover Berniece (Aziza Scott). Some of the money-raising ideas are smart, others are downright foolish, and their situation becomes increasingly dangerous and desperate.
Some of the comedy sequences feel rather silly and contrived and the film works best when it lets Palmer and SZA (real name Solana Rowe) work their magic and focuses on their convincing friendship.
A buddy comedy absolutely must have chemistry between the leads and One of Them Days does not disappoint. Palmer and SZA get on so well here that they feel like genuine friends who’ve known each other for years.
Their dialogue doesn’t feel scripted because they have such a good rapport and bounce off each other naturally.
Palmer is hilarious and charismatic and tries her best to make all the sequences work, even if they’re a bit far-fetched. She has brilliant comedic timing and funny facial expressions.
Although this is her feature debut, R&B singer SZA is a natural actress who plays Alyssa effortlessly. Former child star Palmer has years of acting experience on her but you’d never know it as SZA holds her own easily.
One of Them Days is entertaining to watch thanks its leading duo, who carry the film even when it’s trying too hard to be funny.
In cinemas from Friday 7th March.
By Hannah Wales.
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