One of Them Days
One of Them Days
6.594%89%
When best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa discover Alyssa's boyfriend has blown their rent money, the duo finds themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction and keep their friendship intact.
Monkey See! Monkey Review!! reviewedOctober 16, 2025
TLDR -> Credit where it’s due: the film may strike a chord with those who see their own stories reflected in it. But for me, One of Them Days felt like a chaotic collage of clichés—a “hot ghetto mess” dressed up in glossy production.
Watching One of Them Days, my first impression was that it felt like a modern-day, female-led counterpart to Friday. The second thought that struck me—perhaps unfairly—was whether Keke Palmer was simply playing a version of herself. I found myself wondering if she’s capable of stepping outside roles rooted in the “young, ghetto female” archetype, or if that’s the only lane she’s been given—or chosen—to occupy. I say this not to diminish her talent, but because I’m genuinely eager to see her stretch as an actor and reveal more range.
The film itself is well-produced and doesn’t come off as low-budget, and I understand why it’s received positive reviews. It’s entertaining, especially for viewers who enjoy stories centered around growing up in the hood or navigating chaotic, high-energy environments. But for me, it leaned heavily into familiar tropes—evictions, cheating boyfriends, dead-end jobs, predatory loans—and even included a character reminiscent of Friday’s Deebo. These elements felt recycled rather than refreshed.
I was also surprised to see SZA involved, as I believe her artistic depth deserves more nuanced material. The movie, while lively, seemed to reinforce every negative stereotype associated with Black urban life. It tried to mine humor from the struggles of single, low-income Black women, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was inviting audiences to laugh at rather than with these characters.
That said, I recognize that for some viewers—particularly Black women or those from low-income backgrounds—the film might resonate in a more personal, even cathartic way. If you’re looking for a lighthearted escape with familiar themes, this might be your kind of movie. But having lived through similar struggles myself and knowing the strength and complexity of Black women, I found the portrayal more disheartening than humorous.