‘One of Them Days’ Blu-ray (review)

Sony Pictures

Oxymoronic as the term may be, mature screwball comedies used to be a standard fixture on release slates in any given year.

Unfortunately, the genre’s offerings have diminished in recent years, often resulting in comedies being relegated to either formulaic family-friendly fare or obnoxiously overworked meta comedy.

In One of Them Days, Dreux (Keke Palmer) is excited about the interview for her dream job.

But what was supposed to be a straightforward day of rest and preparation after coming home from her late shift abruptly turns into an absurd and ever-escalating series of improbable events that threatens to throw a spanner in the works for her job interview.

The debacle starts when Dreux and her best friend and roommate Alyssa (SZA) find themselves facing eviction after Alyssa’s layabout boyfriend absconds with their rent money.

Now the two women now have to figure out a way to secure the money they need or face homelessness.

What follows is a zany quest filled with all manner of gags, and thankfully Palmer and SZA competently carry the story with a strong buddy comedy dynamic, their chemistry ensuring the often difficult balance of making a comedy that is sincerely silly without losing sight of the basic human elements required to keep the audience invested as the shenanigans unfold.

Another element that ensures relatability and groundedness is the social commentary, which earnestly approaches subjects such as capitalism and gentrification, but it does so without becoming self-indulgent, managing to have a clear message without losing sight of the friendship of the two women being the heart of the film, reminding the audience that while our best friends sometimes drive us up the wall, ultimately, we are better off for having them around when we need to overcome the obstacles we inevitably encounter in life.

That being said, screwball buddy comedy is obviously not for everyone, so if the idea of crass jokes and comically gross scenarios makes your eyes roll and your toes curl, you are likely best served by steering clear of One of Them Days.

However, if you miss the zany comedies of the late 90s and early 2000s, this film has all the energy and wackiness from back then, making it a retro experience for all the right reasons while providing refreshingly casual entertainment.

Clocking in at 97 minutes, the film does not overstay its welcome, and while it may not be high art, it is nonetheless a fun, straightforward screwball buddy comedy where the set pieces overwhelmingly invoke laughter, the social commentary is relevant without being ham-fisted, and another turn of Palmer and SZA navigating a particularly ridiculous day would not be amiss.

Extras include featurettes and a gag reel.

Verdict: 7 out of 10.