#syreeta singleton

One of Them Days is one of those LA-odyssey, dog day afternoon-type movies, like The Big Lebowski or Friday, in which friends are roped into a series of outrageous trials that take them across town to succeed in their mission. In this case, Dreux and Alyssa must come up with $1,500 before 6 o'clock that evening so they don't get evicted from their apartment.

One of Them Days has the tone of these slacker comedies but leans more into its physical comedy as Alyssa and Dreux take on any challenge they come across to make some cash, from donating four pints of blood in one go, to climbing an electricity pole to grab a pair of Air Jordans that belong to local thug Lolo, who adds an extra $5,000 to their bill - and a death sentence - by demanding a refund for his stolen shoes. Alongside these high-stakes sequences, the film is coloured by funny cameos from Janelle Jameel as a squeamish blood bank nurse, Maude Apatow as the apartment complex's oblivious but well-intentioned harbinger of gentrification and Katt Williams as Lucky, the neighbourhood's wannabe wiseman.

The real strength of the film, however - and they pack some serious punch - is the dynamic between Dreux and Alyssa. Like Amy and Molly in Booksmart, their dynamic is a brilliant and silly display of female relationships and all of the highs, lows and stupid shit that comes with it. Alyssa and Dreux laugh together, lift each other up, take care of each other and smack each other down as hard as only two lifelong friends can.

One of Them Days is an energetic buddy-comedy with two magnetic lead performances by Keke Palmer and SZA. It's a bumpy ride - King Lolo's threat seems unnecessary given everything else the two women have been through all day - but it's one you'll go back to again and again for the thrill and the fun of it.

Other bits:

it's just really nice to see two women get up to stupid nonsense