‘One of Them Days’ a Comical, Hijinks Adventure

By: Russ Matthews

There are moments when you leave the theatre that feel like you have come out of a time machine.

As many films pull from retrospective inspiration from previous eras, director Lawrence Lamont’s buddy film taps into the irreverent comedies of the 70s and 80s. One of Them Days looks to be a vehicle for young talent to establish their prowess in humour and the potential chemistry amongst the cast.

Dreux Jones (Keke Palmer) is a waitress attempting to get into the management program of her restaurant chain. As she works the night shift and prepares for her upcoming interview, the one person she thinks she can rely on is her roommate, Alyssa (SZA). Until she gets home to get some rest before her meeting with the management team and suddenly there is a knock on the door from her landlord. He says their rent has not been paid, and if it is not in his hand by the end of the day, the pair will be evicted. After discovering that Alyssa’s boyfriend blew the cash, the friends must do all they can to scrape together the funds before the end of the business day.

A hijinks-filled adventure leads to events that test the limits of their friendship and creativity of making money quickly.

Testing the Bounds of Friendship

Like most films of this ilk, each step becomes a comedy of errors that escalate to an inevitable conclusion that tests the friendship of these women. Each step becomes a sequence of serendipitous events that serve different levels of comedy and action. Including a cast of cultural caricatures that serve as a catalyst for moving the story along regardless of the level of believability it provides. A statement of gentrification and racial injustice was added to try to lift the ridiculous nature of this style of comedy. Palmer and SZA have good on-screen chemistry and help redeem the relatively predictable and cringeworthy elements, returning to the slapstick comedies of old times.

One of Them Days is a comedy for those looking to turn off their brains and laugh at the expense of sympathetic characters doing it tough. It is unbelievable, intentionally offensive and funny to those who enjoy watching people fall over on their faces and attempt to rise above their situation.

REEL DIALOGUE: The Line Between Friendship and Manipulation

In the words of Paul of Tarsus to his trainee, Timothy. “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Watching One of Them Days could make one wonder how far you are willing to go for the sake of friendship. Where does the line exist between friendship and manipulation? Paul’s words show the difference between those genuinely trying to manipulate and those who are graciously persuading or influencing others. If your motives are selfish and will hurt others, it is going down the path of manipulation. Yet, for those who are merely trying to give out their wisdom and do it in a loving and gracious manner, it may be worth listening to their words.