"One of Them Days" A Surprisingly Decent Comedy

 


    I'm going to be honest, this movie was not on my radar at all. I didn't even realize that it was releasing until I had seen SZA post about it. Even still, my sister really wanted to see this movie, and even though I hadn't heard much about it, I went in with an open mind. And honestly, I'm glad I did, I was pleasantly impressed with it. It isn't some game-changing comedy, I don't think I'm fiending for more Keke Palmer and SZA comedies together, but for what it was, a short 90 minute film that has some pretty relatable working class struggles, it was well worth the price of admission.

    I'll start off with the two leads holding it down together, SZA and Keke Palmer. At first, you'd be a little skeptical of the fit. Frankly, considering at times it feels like SZA can hardly stay a musician, I'd understand if you have some healthy skepticism about the duo working. Don't get it twisted, Keke Palmer does carry the film a little bit, and her character is handed the much more interesting storyline, but SZA isn't just some name there to help sell some tickets, I actually enjoyed the role she played in this movie, as this ditzy friend who serves as this foil to Dreux. Honestly, I was surprised with how well the two played off each other, there was just this natural banter that made it hard not to grin when they were together on screen.
    
    It's not just these two either, the side characters that help make this little corner of LA pop are funny too. Whether it be Lucky, Keshawn, Berniece, or the Maniac. And the reason it works is that this movie just doesn't take itself seriously at all. I'm not saying comedic movies are not allowed to have a morals, but so often you'll be watching a comedy, only for it to get really bogged down when everything comes to a screeching halt, just so the writers can remind you of the moral of the story they really need to make sure everyone gets. Here that is not the case, the message that sometimes these things work themselves out and everything will be alright in the end is clear. No one is trying to watch a comedy about "one of those days" just to be hit with a depressing message about working class people just don't win.

    Combine this with in 90 minute package with some real moments that made me laugh and this movie was pretty good. Make no mistake, this movie is unabashedly itself. I may not be black but even I have to admit I laughed when the whole community shunned a white women joining them, or the dreaded tumbleweave in Bernice's neighborhood. This movie knows what it wants to be, and never strays away. It doesn't try too hard to do the "#relatable" moment, or some insane piece of physical comedy that doesn't work, it knows what it's about (horniness), and it hams it up with the absurdity of it all.

Final Score: 70/100

    Good job SZA, good job Keke. This won't be the most memorable movie of all, but it's a fine enough movie to put on when you're looking for something quick and cheap with friends. Random point, I didn't expect this movie to look amazing, but this movie very much does look like a movie that's filmed in the 2020's, for better or for worse. You know what, Netflix should be pouncing on films like this. It's not going to win awards, but it certainly would help keep some viewers at least.

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