Run That Back: ‘One of Them Days’ makes good movie night flick

Keke Palmer, SZA shine with electric chemistry in comedy that falls short

“One of Them Days” was released in the U.S. and Canada by Sony Pictures Releasing on Jan. 17, 2025. The film has grossed over $50 million. Photo courtesy of Screen Rant

3.5 out of 5 stars

This review may contain spoilers for “One of Them Days,” released on Jan. 17, 2025.

Welcome to “Run That Back,” your go-to place for analyzing new and old films. Here, we take a closer look at the good, the bad and the downright ugly aspects of a film to determine whether it is worth the current ticket price or pressing the playback button for.

Yana McGuire | Staff Writer

Being a fan of the “Friday” comedy franchise that came out during the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was eager to see how “One of Them Days” would modernize the best friends having a bad day trope. It was a pleasant surprise to see the film being reminiscent of the 1990s with perfect soundtrack choices and visuals. However, film writer, Syreeta Singleton, failed to deliver the comedic impact that similar films have had in the past.

It all starts when Dreux (Keke Palmer) finds out that her best friend, Alyssa’s (SZA) boyfriend, has run off with their rent money. Facing same-day eviction, the girl races against the clock to keep their home and, ultimately, their lives.

The Good

Palmer and SZA’s chemistry is electric! The pair displayed the beauty of true friendship in a way that was believable. It is refreshing to see women care for and support one another so genuinely.

Palmer is a veteran in the acting game, which shines through her witty comedic timing. SZA makes her movie debut in this film, yet she is able to keep up with a cast which consists of some of today’s top comedians, like Katt Williams and Tony Baker.

Not to take anything away from SZA’s performance, but the top comedians’ performances are lackluster at best. The jokes just did not hit the way they were intended to. Regardless, Palmer and SZA carried the film and sparked my interest in seeing them in another movie together.

The Bad

“One of Them Days” has a couple of exaggerated scenes that leave the film unbalanced. The scenes are meant to be funny. However, with the film being centered around a laid-back comedy style, these scenes felt out of place and unnecessary.

The Ugly

Although I personally enjoyed this film, some of the stereotype-style jokes do not help the current state of society.

The Church’s Chicken car scene came across as if the filmmakers were pandering to the United States’ vision of black people. It was definitely a “Soul Plane” moment. If you do not know what I mean, trust me, that is a good thing!

Overall, “One of Them Days” is a good film for a movie night with friends. Perfect for one or two light-hearted laughs and could be the start of a funny conversation with your bestie.

Editor’s note: On April 13, 2025, the headline of this article was updated to include the name of the column.