One of Them Days Movie Review

“One of Them Days” is rowdy comedy that examines two young Black women who are roommates in urban L.A. Of course — it is on their “Worst. Day. Ever.” When the rent is due, and the emotions run high — can these two avoid Eviction, and even — later on — Certain Death? Can a friendship survive the strain? Can the parade of ridiculous rejects lead to something sweet? This is “One of Them Movies” that is bound to give you a chuckle!

Two roommates who live paycheck-to-paycheck in South Central L.A. are about to deal with a wild series of events. Dreux (played by Keke Palmer), who works as a waitress, has a best friend from childhood. Her friend, Alyssa (played by SZA) is an artist with a lot of potential – but little cash to show for it.

Alyssa has a weasel of a boyfriend named Keshawn (played by Joshua David Neal). He has been staying with the ladies on a short-term basis. But the six days has turned into six months. Druex supports them both with the rent money. She has given the rent that was due to Alyssa. But Alyssa has unwisely given the rent money to Keshawn.

Today is the date rent is due, and the strict landlord, Uche (played by Rizi Timane) knocks on the door to collect the rent. Druex is confused, because the rent money should have been paid by Alyssa. When Druex finds out that Keshawn has the money, she is furious. Correction: Keshawn used to have the money. He spent it on stuff that he intends to sell.

Now Alyssa and Druex are in deep trouble. They need to get $1,500 dollars by 6 PM today, or they will be evicted. Keshawn has disappeared – so the chase is on. Alyssa finds his phone, and sees that he has been seeing another woman. Berniece (played by Aziza Scott) is a tough lady, and she has made Keshawn her next ‘boy toy’.

They head over to confront Keshawn and Berniece. Alyssa parks her beat-up car in a bad place. They go over to the apartment where they find the two sneaky lovers. Berniece is full of rage, so she takes off after Druex and Alyssa. But Alyssa finds that her car has been towed away. So, now it is a foot race.

Druex and Alyssa are able to get away, but they still are broke. They happen to see a shady ‘payday loan’ place, with the promise of quick money. Just outside, there is a homeless guy called Lucky (played by Katt Williams).

He rants on and on about his life was ruined after taking out a loan. Inside, a woman named Kathy (played by Keyla Monterroso Mejia) tries to get Druex a loan. But she laughs when she sees the Credit Score. So, no loan today.

The next stop is a ‘blood bank’ service which will pay for your blood. After a gross mishap there, the girls are off again. They go and try and get some food, and there they run into a handsome guy in a nice new car. He says his friends call him Maniac (played by Patrick Cage). But he does not explain why he carries an axe in his car…

Alyssa is freaked out and scrams, which only leaves Druex riding around with Maniac. But Druex see that Maniac seems to be really nice. He offers to drive her around to find Alyssa. But when they stop her climbing a power pole – Druex is now freaked out.

Berniece is searching for the two woman, keeping Keshawn with her. He is getting more and more upset at how mean Berniece can be. Blocks away, Alyssa has found a pair of expensive sports shoes up on the power line. She gets the shoes down and expects to sell them for the rent money. But she does not know that these shoes are the property of a local thug gang leader named King Lolo (played by Amin Joseph).

Druex and Alyssa sell the shoes to a person in the park. He is called The Buyer (played by Lil Rel Howery). Dreux and Alyssa now have enough to cover the rent. But Druex remembers that she has an interview scheduled for 4 PM today. They have some outrageous clothes they picked up at the blood bank. It will be bad for Druex to go to the interview looking like a stripper.

Druex borrows a men’s jacket and gets to the interview. She talks with a very nice lady named Shayla (played by Gabrielle Dennis), and she thinks that Druex could have the right background for the opening. But outside the fancy office building, Alyssa is attacked by a very wild Berniece. Druex leaves the interview to go and help her friend. So, no job today…

They both are down-trodden when Berniece steals the money they got from the sale of the shoes. They trudge back to the apartment, only to find that Uche has kicked them out. They are forlorn, and then find out that the gang leader — King Lolo — has demanded that they pay him back for the shoes. And he wants five thousand dollars.

Broke and homeless and facing ‘Certain Death’ at 9 PM, they are at a bitter end. But they meet a new resident of the run-down apartment. It is a lily-White woman named Bethany (played by Maude Apatow). She had gotten a very beautiful suite that was offered by Uche. The landlord wants to get rid of the low-life residents and trade up to high-scale clients.

Bethany loves the art that Alyssa has done. She offers to buy some, and says she can get her well-funded art friends offer to perhaps buy a lot more. Great — How is this evening? So, the down-on-their luck roommates have a huge blow-out art sale in the courtyard that night. They might be able to rent money after all. That is, until an unhinged King Lolo comes by armed with his henchmen.

Will there be a bloodbath on the pavement? Will all the loose ends of this Terrible, Horrible, No-good, Very Bad day ever get tied up? Will Druex find out about her job interview? Will Allysa be recognized as a true artist? Will the people they met today bond together to help out?

“One of Them Days” is a showcase of talent of ‘them’ two main stars. Keke Palmer (as Dreux) and SZA (as Alyssa) are very good together in this movie. It plays up to the strengths of these actors, giving them both some funny and some deeply touching moments. As the antics and the stakes get raised, it makes for an extremely enjoyable time.

Syreeta Singleton has created a story that shows the plight of the people living on the edge. But with a comic series of increasingly absurd situations, it becomes a funny look at what folks might need to do to just get by. It has some profane moments that are handled well, and some well-deserved final outcomes.

“One of Them Days” is a full day following two unfortunate ladies on their ‘Worst Day Ever  — but more than that — it becomes ‘One of Them Movies’ that will sneak up on you give you an unexpected great time.