With an unbeatable cast, One Of Them Days delivers a rollercoaster of Black cinematic edge and comedy. Issa Rae’s latest produced project brings together SZA and Keke Palmer, who shine as two characters bonded by a tight-knit sisterhood overflowing with off-the-cuff humor and total chaos.
Having One Of Them Days isn’t a lifestyle; it’s a moment in time that will pass—or so we hope! Starring Keke Palmer and SZA in lead roles, Issa Rae produces this uplifting bestie comedy, One Of Them Days, directed by Lawrence Lamont. Set within the span of a single day, Syreeta Singleton’s script delivers a kitschy Black comedy laced with turmoil, wild antics, and unpredictable, over-the-top humor. What starts as an ordinary day spirals into a baffling, laugh-out-loud 90-minute ride.
Keke Palmer plays Dreux, a self-proclaimed business-oriented dreamer who excels at her day job at a diner and is keenly aware of the gentrification sweeping through her Crenshaw neighborhood in Los Angeles. Her roommate’s bestie, Alyssa (SZA), is a dreamy artist who lives by the astrological lunar cycle, while clinging to her deadbeat boyfriend (until he finds a better opportunity). The real issue arises when they both realize that their neighborhood is being priced out by incoming gentrifiers.
When disdain for their new neighbors, played by Maude Apatow, begins to build, Dreux and Alyssa soon find out that Alyssa’s broke boyfriend has stolen all of their rent money. This sets off a 24-hour race against time to secure enough cash to pay their rent and avoid eviction. In One Of Them Days, Katt Williams also plays an unhoused, Yoda-like figure who offers bizarre but profound wisdom to the girls during their most desperate moments. However, they ignore him each time he enters the scene, forcing Alyssa and Dreux to exhaust every option to make ends meet.
Set in various iconic locations south of La Brea, the Los Angeles community serves as a vibrant backdrop for the girls’ money-making mission. Working together, Alyssa and Dreux adopt an entrepreneurial approach by taking out a loan, which ends up working out in a surprisingly positive way. Issa Rae gives a nod to her nonprofit work at We Got Y’all on HBO’s Insecure, referencing the org’s name in the slogan for a sketchy loan service.
Amid the mayhem, One Of Them Days explores the reasons why we build and preserve community, primarily due to the locals who have shaped its culture. SZA and Keke Palmer’s chemistry makes them besties you can’t help but root for as they tackle everything from sky-high Jordan 1s to run-ins with violent gangsters. Along the way, they make plenty of enemies, all in pursuit of paying rent and saving their community apartment. But the true irony is how their actions create conflict even as they try to protect themselves and their home.
Led by the creative collective of Issa Rae, One Of Them Days showcases Keke Palmer and SZA playing off each other’s wit and animated energies, channeling the playful, problem-solving vibe of the 1995 Black comedy classic, Friday. With Singleton’s clever script and Lamont’s direction, the duo’s sultry, slapstick humor offers a fresh and fun take on urban life, capturing the essence of their experiences as women in Los Angeles.
