'One of Them Days' promises laughs with Keke Palmer and SZA but delivers disappointment
Keke Palmer and SZA in a scene from 'One of Them Days'.
Image: Supplied
I feel like I’ve been duped by false promises this week. Aside from the Jussie Smollett documentary on Netflix, I happened upon “One of Them Days”.
It had all the hallmarks of a fun comedy with Keke Palmer and SZA as the leads. And it had Issa Rae on the producer credits.
Now, when it comes to Rae, the actress, writer, and producer, she can do no wrong in my eyes after “Insecure”.
Boy, was I mistaken - no disrespect to Rae, though.
The film is a spectacular failure on multiple fronts, which I will get to shortly.
Let’s first unpack the premise.
Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are besties as well as roommates. While Dreux is the more responsible one of the two, Alyssa is more easygoing.
After a long day at work, Dreux gets home with the objective to get some much-needed shut-eye before a very important interview for a management position.
Aside from having a bad hair day, her troubles worsen when their landlord threatens them with eviction if their $1,500 rent isn’t paid by 6pm.
With only a few hours left, the two track down Keshawn (Joshua Neal), SZA’s good-for-nothing, sneaker-loving boyfriend, only to learn that he squandered the money.
Even worse, they crossed paths with Ruby (Janelle James), and everyone in the neighbourhood knows better than to cross her.
While trying to dodge Ruby, who is on the warpath after they humiliated her, the two try to figure out how to make some quick cash.
Their first option is to get a loan. But their combined credit score sees them laughed out of the store. This makes Lucky (Katt Williams), a protestor outside the store, feel as if he was successful in dissuading them from being heavy in debt.
Option number two is to give blood, but once again, those efforts go pear-shaped. But they get a dessert voucher, at least.
SZA and Keke Palmer in a scene from 'One of Them Days'.
Image: Supplied
The more Dreux tries to step up and make a plan, the more it backfires, thanks to Alyssa unwittingly sabotaging them.
In the end, it comes together.
The script, however, is feeble and predictable. As far as performances go, Palmer carries the film. The humour is silly, trashy, and forced.
I would give it a miss.
Rating: * signals a poorly executed film with minimal redeeming qualities.