The Wasteland Reviewer

One of Them Days (2025) Written Review

Have you ever had one of those days where everything went terribly wrong? Of course, you have…we are human, and life is a challenge. But I am sure you have never had a day quite like One of Them Days. Evictions, big interviews, a rampaging woman who wants to destroy you, bloody messes, and shootouts. Just one of those things would be enough to turn a good day bad (and some of them could be completely life altering). But the Rap Sh!t writer and director combo of Syreeta Singleton and Lawrence Lamont deliver quite the thrilling and hilarious ride in the form of One of Them Days.

Do Lamont and Singleton deliver the goods? The most important thing for a comedy to work is well…make you laugh. One of Them Days delivers in stride. This is such a hilarious and bold film that is dripping with personality. The style that Lamont brings is fantastic with a color world for our characters to play around (or desperately try to make money) in. The neighborhood (“The Jungle”) feels so lived in and full of life. There are plenty of fun motifs with sight gags and editing elements. Singleton’s screenplay is packed full of hilarious gags and sharp and authentic dialogue as well. Sure, there are some moments that feel a bit too lowbrow (poop jokes and bodily fluids aside) but overall, the film is jam packed with hilarious moments that will keep you engaged.

But is One of Them Days just all for laughs? Singleton can weave some meaningful elements into the film as well. The heart of the film certainly is the friendship between Keke Palmer’s Dreux and SZA’s Alyssa. You connect with them and fall for their friendship within the opening scene. You are invested throughout the nonsense, ups, and downs of this wild day in their life. You can learn about their goals and aspirations as they are tested. There is even a nice light romantic subplot for Dreux that is honestly kind of sweet. There is a bit of depth as Dreux tries to make it as a young black woman in a corporate structure. The screenplay is not perfect as the film draws on some obvious and tired tropes of such stories. The plot even gets a little too ridiculous as it reaches its climax to the point where easy conveniences must be employed to bring the film to its conclusion. To be honest, there is just too much charm and hilarity to get bogged down but the narrative shortcomings.

What is the real hidden gem that makes this hilarious concoction work? This cast. If you didn’t think Palmer was a star after Nope, you better believe now. Her physicality and facial expressions sell all the emotion and absurdity of her day. The cadence of her line deliveries brings so much personality to Singleton’s dialogue. But most importantly, we feel all the emotion for Dreux, and we empathize with her so deeply. SZA is a ball of charisma that just sells every bit of who Alyssa is (for better or worse). There are even a few moments where she must shift gears, and she delivers some poignant moments as well. Then you have a wonderful mosaic of characters that deliver as well. Vanessa Bell Calloway is Mama Ruth, and she feels like a warm blanket every moment she is on screen. Katt Williams is such a delight as the neighborhood oddball as he delivers plenty of laughs. Maude Apatow sticks out like a sore thumb…in the best way possible was Bethany (the new white girl neighbor). Janelle James (the Abbott Elementary standout) steals her scenes here too. Aziza Scott is honestly terrifying. The unexpected standout is Keyla Monterroso Mejia who makes a trip to the predatory cash lender so much funnier than it could have been.

Is One of Them Days one of those comedies? This is going to be one of the shining lights of this year’s January cinematic landscape. There are so many laughs in this film that you will be walking out with a big smile. But it is the friendship between Dreux and Alyssa that will make this film stick with you. Palmer and SZA are an electric duo that will make this film endlessly rewatchable as well.