Months after its U.S. release, One of Them Days has finally made its way across the pond, and I went to watch it on Friday. Produced by Issa Rae and starring SZA (Alyssa) and Keke Palmer (Dreux), the film piqued my interest, especially with a cast stacked with familiar faces including Kat Williams, Janelle James, and Maude Apatow.
Here’s a brief summary…
One of them Days follows Dreux and Alyssa on a chaotic, time-sensitive mission: they have just nine hours to locate their missing rent money. What follows is a fast-paced, ridiculous, and at times, unexpectedly heartfelt journey through a neighbourhood filled with odd characters and absurd situations. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works.
SZA’s acting debut
As a long time SZA fan and a lover of all things Keke, I was excited to see the two on the big screen together for 90 minutes. And SZA’s acting debut couldn’t have been more perfect. There was something so effortless about her performance—I feel like we all know an Alyssa. SZA didn’t over-do it, and her natural charm translated so well on screen. The dynamic between SZA and Keke Palmer was playful, chaotic, and full of unspoken moments that made their friendship feel lived-in.
BFFs: Black Female Friendships
The movie centres Black female friendship in such an organic way. Dreux and Alyssa aren’t there for the sake of the plot—they actually feel like best friends, with the kind of shorthand and inside jokes that make their connection believable. What I appreciated about One of Them Days is that it proves that Black women don’t need heavy narratives in order to be excellent or make impact. Whilst the crux of the film is a financial struggle, it isn’t about deep trauma, or larger-than-life heroism. It’s two women navigating the mess of a day, in the most entertaining way possible. That alone makes the movie a refreshing watch
Gimme more!!
The movie parallels Friday (1995), which is inevitable but what I find crazy is that its take nearly 30 years to deliver a female-led comedy of that caliber. One of Them Days taps into the same kind of humour: situational, exaggerated, but never trying too hard. It’s light, funny, and cute— a film that could easily become a go-to comfort watch.
If there’s one thing One of Them Days did, it was leave me wanting more. Like Friday, I think One of Them Days could use two more instalments. I propose a prequel and a sequel. I want to know more about Dreux and Alyssa’s backstory. How did they meet? How did they become roommates? Was there a friend group? And on the flip side, the ending left space for a sequel. The chemistry was too good, the world too vibrant, and the humour too real for this to be a one-and-done film. Hollywood, make it happen.
Another watch?
If you’d ask me whether I’d pay to watch it in cinema again, I’d probably say no. But that’s not a knock on the film itself. It’s more about the wider issues with cinema culture—extortionate snack prices, the lack of student discounts (yes Vue, I’m looking at you), and the fact that some movies just feel more suited to a laid-back streaming experience. I’d watch One of Them Days again in a heartbeat from the comfort of my crumb-infested bed.