Keke Palmer is a big talent. Projects as varied as the inspirational character piece Akeelah and the Bee, the musical drama Joyful Noise, the dark comedy-horror show Scream Queens, and Jordan Peele’s Science Fiction thriller, Nope have proven the actress’s depth and range. Giving one of her most intoxicating performances yet, Palmer starts 2025 off with a bang in Lawrence Lamont’s very funny new comedy, One of Them Days, a film beaming with the type of infectious character-driven humor that is absent from most modern comedies. 

Actor Edmund Gwenn is credited with coining the phrase, “Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” While the movies have borne some classic and side-splitting comedy gems over the years, the past couple of decades have proven Gwenn’s declaration to be fact. There hasn’t been a great comedy in quite some time, as Hollywood has fallen into what can be described as “reaction humor”. This is where a character will fall, get hit with an object, or be doused in some form of liquid, while the camera cuts to a reaction shot of people recoiling in shock and yelling, “Oooo!” or an extended “Damn!” After hit films like The Hangover and Dodgeball, too large a number of today’s comedies go for pratfalls and gross out jokes over natural humor. 

Written by Syreeta Singleton (her feature length debut), One of Them Days does include one or two scenes that go too far over the top, but they are the only moments of that type. The film as a whole doesn’t suffer due to Singleton’s care in the design of her two main characters, as her screenplay endears them to the audience and gives the two leads something real to work with amongst the comedic madness. 

Keke Palmer and Grammy Award-winning artist SZA (in her acting debut) play best friends/roomies Dreux and Alyssa, respectively. Dreux is a respected waitress gunning for a promotion to management. Alyssa is a talented artist who doesn’t do much but hang out and have sex with her pseudo-boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua David Neal), who stays in their apartment, rent free, while claiming he doesn’t actually live there. Dreux and Alyssa have the type of friendship where each one is encouraging to the other; equal emotional support partners who keep the other’s spirits high when life gets low. 

Palmer and SZA have a natural rapport that gives their characters a lived-in feel. Thanks to Singleton’s dedication to creating real portraits of two young, modern, Black women trying to survive in today’s economy, the two actresses have a wide canvas in which to create. First time feature filmmaker Lamont stays out of their way (for the most part) and allows the comedy to come from how their characters deal with the crazy situations in which they find themselves involved, rather than reducing the two women to offensive stereotypes. 

As Dreux and Alyssa’s day begins, their unforgiving landlord, Uche (Rizi Timane) demands his $1500 in overdue rent money by the end of the day or he will evict them. Dreux is confused, as she gave Alyssa the cash to give to Uche on time. It comes to pass that Keshawn “borrowed” the money to fund his t-shirt business that has resulted in one shirt. Such a desperate situation leads the two friends on a daylong comic journey through their South Central Los Angeles neighborhood (nicknamed “The Jungles”), getting into one outrageous jam after another, while their livelihoods and friendship are tested as the day continues.

As Dreux and Alyssa go about their insanely madcap adventure, Singleton’s screenplay inserts numerous side characters, presenting a rich showcase for some memorably funny moments from a cast of gifted comic actors. 

Aziza Scott is Berniece, a tough and quick-tempered woman who uses her sexuality to comically seduce any man she wants. After Keshawn shacks up with her, Dreux and Alyssa have to sneak into her apartment to get the rent money back. When their plan goes haywire, Berniece spends the rest of the film hunting them down. Scott does a fine job of capturing the “F around and find out” attitude of the character, making her quite funny but never fully cartoonish. 

Maude Apatow plays the clueless Bethany, the first white person to move into the area. Exhibiting the right amount of goofy obliviousness, Bethany represents the ignorance of unwanted gentrification. 

Janelle James is great as the worst lab technician in history. Lil Rel Howery is hilarious as a sneaker junkie who is much too emotional. Katt Williams is comic gold as a homeless man who begs Dreux and Alyssa not to get a loan from the predatory company that caused him to lose everything, while Keyla Monterroso Mejia is the woman who turns down our heroines for said loan, smiling as the three trade very funny not-so-casual insults. All of these characters have purpose and give the film’s setting a believable sense of community. 

Although a heightened sense of comedy pulsates through each scene, the world Dreux and Alyssa move through feels honest and real. Director Lamont compliments Singleton’s hard work by making good use out of the L.A. locations, allowing the areas of the city to breathe and become their own character. 

From scene to scene, the gags go from subtle to absurd, with most of the humor hitting quite well. Lamont’s knack for navigating the rhythms of comedy makes it all work, culminating in a breezy, infectious, and mostly hilarious ride for the audience. 

Anchored by a good script, focused filmmaking, and two intoxicating lead performances, One of Them Days is absolutely charming and one of the funniest comedies in years.

One of Them Days

Written by Syreeta Singleton

Directed by Lawrence Lamont

Starring Keke Palmer, SZA, Aziza Scott, Joshua David Neal, Rizi Timane, Patrick cage, Katt Williams, Maude Apatow, Jamell James. Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Lil Rey Howerey

R, 97 Minutes, Sony Pictures Entertainment, TriStar Pictures, Big Boss Entertainment