One of Them Days – Movie Reviews by Ry!

One of Them Days – Friendship or Rent? A Satire of Dollars’ Worth

Every movie, no matter the genre, has something unique to provide.  When a tale brings about those feelings that push and pull, we are able to find that sensation that grips us to the journey ahead.  When the right balance is struck, it becomes a tale of true enjoyment.  In this review, I look at the next comedy to hit the big screen.  Building from a simple premise, we head on a journey of an illicit comedy through realistic motifs.  Even as convenience comes into play, One of Them Days is a buddy-like satire that brings the laughs in the meaning of a dollar.

When two roommates are met with an unnerving circumstance, they go to extreme measures in hopes of saving their home … and friendship.  The ideal circumstance is when things unfold, you can see more than what is on the surface.  With comedies, the matter of the situation is to laugh, but a great comedy goes beyond to reveal something true.  With this film, it starts from triviality, but weaves into something that truly reflects on the present day.  In the beginning, we come into this tale through the drop-in method, as we witness everyday life happening with our two main characters: Druex (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA).  Druex is currently working as a waitress at a 24-hour diner in L.A., and Alyssa is an aspiring painter.  Through conversational scenes, we learn they are best friends living together in an apartment complex known as ‘The Jungle’.  From general commentary (in the first act), we learn about their daily struggles, each trying to move up in the world (theme of personal worth).  Aside from these pursuits, they also must deal with a situation common to most people: paying rent.  As we head into the second act, we learn that the rent money was not delivered to the landlord.  This shifts the film into a screwball journey, forcing the two into extreme measures to solve the rent situation.  As we witness Druex and Alyssa traverse L.A. through unorthodox ways, it begins to peel back the cliché elements of the comedy, becoming more of a sublime reflection of everyday life.  Witnessing the overexaggerated situations adds levity to the journey, turning it into a satire about our own nature of everyday survival.  The struggle is both laughable and surreal, one that shows how each character gets lost in their emotions and personal flaws.  This propels the comedic moments to new heights, adding honest laughs in a commentary about life. 

As the two navigate uncharted waters, each moment becomes an ironic snapshot of everyday life.  Each situation connects to a reasonable notion of choice but weaves it through odd-like caricatures or blunt one-liners.  As each decision leads to further consequences, it builds up the flaws (within the characters) but at a level of eventual understanding (foreshadowed).  The balancing act of the screwball comedy and everyday satire gives worth to consequence, even if they are conveniently overplayed.  With time running out, we head into a third act that propels the characters to new heights, but also never forgets the comedy.  This leads to a predictable ‘coming to terms’ like climax and epilogue.  One of Them Days is a film that finds a good balance between its screwball comedic foundation and satirical commentary of life.  If you are fan of those involved, screwball comedies or satires, this is one for you.  For others, I think you will find enough laughs for a good time.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)