Keke Palmer and SZA have incredible chemistry in “One of Them Days,” bringing a refreshing take on the buddy comedy genre. Two best friends and roommates, Dreux and Alyssa, are on a mission to make enough money for rent before the day ends after Alyssa’s boyfriend steals it.
It is a must-see film that pays homage to the 1995 film “Friday” and broke ground at the box office. Produced with a budget of $14 million, the film has now grossed over $50 million at the box office and has a critics score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is also one of the first sitcoms since the 1997 sitcom “B*A*P*S” that stars two Black female leads.
The film is also backed by Issa Rae’s production company, ColorCreative, which collaborated with SONY. The film was written by a Black woman, Syreeta Singleton, and directed by a Black man, Lawrence Lamont. Palmer also collaborated on the film’s production, working alongside Rae on the project.
Palmer and SZA have a remarkable connection on screen that breathes life into the film. Alyssa, played by SZA, is a free spirit, a broke artist with a terrible boyfriend and a lot of love for her best friend, Dreux, played by Palmer. Dreux is a hard-working, Type A planner who is trying to break into the corporate world. The two best friends are opposites, a classic component of the buddy comedy genre.
Palmer is a seasoned veteran and a powerhouse in the industry with experience hosting, acting and making music. She even released a memoir in 2024.
She is also absolutely hilarious. There is a certain magic about Palmer’s performance as Dreux that transcends the screen, making it feel like she is everyone’s hilarious best friend. Each line Palmer delivers is incredibly well done, as she delivers even the dull lines of the script with comedic genius.
Starring alongside Palmer, Grammy award winner SZA made her on-screen debut in the film. In an interview with The FaderPalmer was cast first, with the network proposing SZA join the crew afterward.
Once rehearsals began, it was evident to Lamont and the crew that SZA was perfect to play Alyssa. They were right, as she can hold her own alongside Palmer and add a softer energy with the free spirit character of Alyssa. She’s warm and bubbly on screen, but the charisma between her and Palmer carries her performance into a well-done, witty first appearance in the film industry.
Beneath the surface of Palmer and SZA’s performances is a movie teeming with social commentary and celebration of Black culture while displaying the cycle of poverty. The film takes place in southern Los Angeles and was filmed in the Jungles, the actual location of the script.
Rae shared how difficult it was to film in the Jungles, detailing how the crew ran into financial issues, run-ins with gangs and had to create the film during the California wildfires. Shooting the film in the area where the script takes place was important for Rae and Singleton, the writer of the original script.
Rae spoke to The Credit about why it was important for her, Singleton and the crew to film on location.
“You can’t tell this story, at least in my eyes and being an L.A. native, without actually shooting in these neighborhoods,” Rae said. “We got real-life background actors who were from the neighborhood, and we were able to patronize the businesses around. And it just felt special to be in the essence.”
Palmer backed up this sentiment in an interview with NBC, discussing the social commentary mixed in with the witty banter of the film.
“’Yeah OK, we got friendship during hijinks and people are crazy, but it’s like, ‘Wait a minute, there is a cycle of poverty here and actually it is really hard to work your way up,” Palmer said.
“One of Them Days” is a well-done addition to the buddy comedy genre with two incredible Black female leads who make the film what it is. Taking place in southern L.A., the film’s setting manages to shed light on the effects of poverty and gentrification on Black communities. The film also celebrates marginalized voices and depicts the connections that exist in impoverished communities.
Although not on streaming platforms yet, the movie can be rented or bought on Prime Video, Apple TV or YouTube TV.
