Director: Robert Altman Starring: Keke Palmer, SZA Studio: Sony Pictures Genre(s): Comedy Rated: R (For language throughout, sexual material and brief drug use) |
Ever feel like it was just “One of Them Days?” If so, chances are it isn’t as stressful as the day THESE two women have had! Midway through the film, we find our two protagonists - Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) - having the typical third-act breakup, where tensions reach a boiling point and the two are on the verge of their friendship being lost forever. In most movies, this is a trite, artificial way to create some drama before the inevitable happy ending that is to come. Normally critics roll their eyes at such developments. Here though, the breakup works for two key reasons. One, Alyssa has genuinely messed up and put these two in truly compromising situations. Two, the day has been so stressful that, if I had the day they had, I would consider their fallout to be restraint.
After all, the day begins with their rent being stolen, having nine hours before they are evicted, needing to get to a job interview without the use of a car (it got towed), all while being chased by a vein queen that nobody dares insult. Do I even mention…nah, I’ll let that one be a surprise. I don’t know what's more impressive: the fact that so much conflict is thrown at the screenplay or the fact that none of it feels forced. Strangely, this feels like a real day where crazy hijinks just piled on top of each other in one hilarious way after another. It’s the kind of slapstick comedy that is outrageous enough to be funny while not being so ridiculous that you can’t take it seriously.
This is also one of those rare movies that cinephiles love to say they want more of that we don’t get in theaters. It is original, written, and directed by people who are largely being introduced to us for the first time, and revolving around a minority group in real America. If this movie doesn’t make at least $100 then it is further proof that we as a society wouldn’t know a great film if it slapped us across the face (you’ll understand the underhanded joke if you decide to see this). What’s more, while watching “One of Them Days” I felt like I was also watching the beginning of two stars in the making. While I have seen Keke Palmer in other works, she shows she is a leading star in the making, having complete control of her performance from beginning to end.
More than holding her own is SZA, a rapper whose music I must admit I am unfamiliar with, but shows up here as a true comedic force to be reckoned with. Her character could have easily been annoying (seeing that she is the main reason for most of the problems these two face), yet her performance is one of sass, hilarity, and even a little bit of sexiness. She is the kind of friend most of us wish we had during the tough (and maybe slightly outlandish) times. Together, these two bounce off each other so well and have such infectious chemistry, that I have to wonder if they could pull a Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and make a series of buddy movies for the modern age.
In a day and age where good friends seem hard to find, it is strange that the buddy comedy more or less went away. Maybe it was because the films were starting to feel cliche and too unrealistic, but “One of Them Days” shows that there is still life and (dare I say it) a little magic to be found in the concept. The success of this movie isn’t just that it's very funny, but that it also allows us to follow people we genuinely fall in love with and want to spend a day with. At less than 100 minutes the film moves along at a brisk pace and doesn’t overstay its welcome, making me want to see more. Maybe not a sequel, but if these two girls want to make another movie I’m down for that.
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