Keke Palmer and SZA bring chaos, curls, and credit problems in this wild (and wildly disappointing) scene from One of Them Days. Image: Supplied.
TNP Journalist Sinovuyo Reviews Netflix Film One of Them Days
(The Post News)РI hit play on One of Them Days expecting a fresh, comic ride, with Keke Palmer and SZA headlining it and Issa Rae producing it. That combo should have been comedy gold. Instead, it was a major letdown. The film promises laughs and chaos. What it delivers is confusion and clich̩s. It tries too hard to be quirky. Instead, it ends up being forgettable.
Let’s start with the premise. Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are best friends and roommates. Dreux is the responsible one. Alyssa is the carefree mess. After a rough workday, Dreux just wants rest before a big job interview. But trouble kicks in immediately. Their landlord shows up demanding rent. They owe $1,500 and have just hours to find it. Desperate, they chase down Alyssa’s boyfriend, Keshawn (Joshua Neal). Surprise—he blew the rent money on sneakers. From there, things spiral. They cross Ruby (Janelle James), a local menace. Bad idea. Ruby is furious and looking for payback.
What Went Wrong in One of Them Days
Here’s where One of Them Days nosedives: The girls try different ways to get cash. First, they visit a loan store. With terrible credit, they get laughed out the door. Protester Lucky (Katt Williams) cheers, thinking he saved them from debt. Next, they try donating blood. That fails too. At least they get a dessert voucher. Dreux tries hard to fix things, but Alyssa keeps ruining the plans.
The film wants to be a buddy comedy. But it forgets to be smart. Every scene feels like a sketch gone wrong. The pacing drags. The jokes fall flat. The writing is weak. Dialogues feel rushed and unrealistic. The plot follows a worn-out formula. You know what’s coming before it happens.
Keke Palmer works overtime to keep things alive. She delivers energy and charm. SZA, in her acting debut, feels out of place. Her timing is off. The chemistry between them isn’t strong enough to carry the script. The supporting cast also suffers. Janelle James tries to channel her usual chaotic humor. But Ruby is more annoying than scary. Katt Williams gets a few decent lines but isn’t used well. Joshua Neal’s character is a tired stereotype.
The film wants to be edgy. It ends up being immature. One scene after another stumbles without rhythm or bite. Eventually, the story wraps up neatly. Everything falls into place. But by then, you’re no longer invested. It feels like the end of a long, disappointing day. The worst part? You can see the potential. The idea could’ve worked. With sharper writing and better direction, this could’ve been a fun ride. But as it stands, One of Them Days crashes under its own weight.
Final Thoughts on One of Them Days Review
If you are looking for a fun night in, this is not it. The comedy is loud but not outstanding. The tempo is awkward, the script lacks impact, and despite having stars like Palmer and SZA, the picture falls apart. Issa Rae’s name raised my hopes following Insecure; I expected more, but Rae’s special touch is missing here. She can’t save a film that isn’t sure what it wants to be. There is a distinction between riotous fun and sloppy storytelling. This film leans too much into the latter—it attempts to charm its way out of poor writing but fails.
I give this movie a single star. That’s for Palmer’s effort alone. She’s the only one trying to hold the mess together. But even she can’t fix a broken foundation. One of Them Days is a comedy that doesn’t know how to be funny. It relies on noise and nonsense. Don’t waste your time.
I would skip it. Watch something better.
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
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