Unpacking ‘One of Them Days’: A Riveting Movie Review Featuring Keke Palmer and SZA

MPA Rating: [R]

One of Them Days is a buddy comedy that premiered on January 17, 2025. Written by Syreeta Singleton and produced by Issa Rae, the film follows two friends, Dreux Jones (played by Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA, making her film debut). They are facing eviction and must race against time to protect their home and friendship.

Thanks to UT Martin’s Flight Crew, I got the chance to watch the film and couldn’t wait to share my thoughts! Just a heads-up: there are spoilers ahead, so watch the movie first if you don’t want any surprises.

The story kicks off with Dreux and Alyssa in a tough spot. Their landlord demands rent by 6 p.m. or else they’ll be thrown out. Things take a turn when Alyssa’s boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), steals their rent money to put into his own T-shirt business. He’s clearly not the guy for Alyssa, who seems to be the supportive type, always trying to uplift Dreux, who struggles with self-doubt.

Their adventure leads them to find Keshawn at the home of Berniece (Aziza Scott), his other girlfriend. Berniece is portrayed as the neighborhood bully with a fierce attitude, reminiscent of the character Deebo from the classic film Friday.

Things get wild when they confront Keshawn. In a hilarious scene, they visit a shady loan bank where a homeless man named Lucky (Katt Williams) warns them against it. The teller laughs at their low credit scores, adding to their frustration. Katt Williams steals the scene with his impeccable comedic timing, likely ad-libbing his lines.

Their day escalates from bad to worse. Dreux ends up donating blood and has a chaotic encounter with a stripper-turned-nurse played by Janelle James. Meanwhile, Alyssa gets electrocuted while trying to grab rare Jordans dangling from a utility pole. They decide to sell these shoes on eBay, but little do they know they belong to a dangerous gang leader, King Lolo (Amin Joseph).

Alyssa’s bright idea to sell the shoes brings more trouble when Berniece shows up and attacks them, stealing their remaining cash. They find themselves caught between the wrath of King Lolo and losing their friendship. To make matters worse, their landlord evicts them early, leaving all their belongings on the curb.

Fortunately, they meet their friendly neighbor Bethany (Maude Apatow), who buys one of Alyssa’s paintings. This inspires the girls to host an impromptu art show to raise cash. The plan works, and even Dreux’s job interviewer attends, promising to call with good news. But just as things start looking up, King Lolo shows up demanding his shoes.

In a chaotic showdown, shots are fired, and the girls must escape. The scene takes another twist when they find Keshawn trying to win Alyssa back. The ensuing chaos ends with a ceiling collapse that accidentally lights a fire, but firefighters arrive just in time. One of them is Dreux’s crush, Maniac (Patrick Cage), who turns out to be a hero.

In the end, King Lolo is arrested thanks to Alyssa’s quick thinking. The girls come out stronger and kick Keshawn to the curb. They even move into a newly refurbished apartment.

I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining and adventurous One of Them Days turned out to be. It exceeded my expectations, especially with the outstanding performances by the cast. This film is definitely worth a watch!

Grade: 9.5/10