One Of Them Days ★★★★

Released: 7th March 2025

Director: Lawrance Lamont

Starring: SZA, Keke Palmer

There is something undeniably magical about a film that doesn’t just tell a story but transports you to another era. The press screening I attended of One of Them Days did exactly that—whisking the audience and I straight back to the neon-lit, mixtape-wielding, carefree days of the 1990s. Directed by Lawrence Lamont with infectious energy and a clear love for the decade, the film is a riotous celebration of everything that made ’90s comedies like (House Party) and (Friday) cultural touchstones. Anchored by electric performances from Keke Palmer and SZA, with scene-stealing support from Vanessa Bell Calloway and the ensemble cast, One of Them Days delivers non-stop laughs, chaotic charm, and a heartfelt ode to friendship. From its opening scene to the credits, it’s a blast of humour, heart, and nostalgia, proving that some vibes are truly timeless.  

If House Party (1992) and Friday (1995) had a cinematic love child, One of Them Days would be it. The film channels the former’s anarchic party energy and the latter’s laid-back, neighbourhood-centric humour, blending them into a fresh yet familiar concoction.

Best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) face a quintessential ’90s crisis: Alyssa’s deadbeat boyfriend has blown their rent money, leaving them 24 hours to scrape together cash or face eviction. What follows is a wild, day-long odyssey of hustles, heists, and hilarious misadventures, all set against the backdrop of their vibrant, slightly gritty neighbourhood. Like Craig and Smokey in Friday, Dreux and Alyssa’s chemistry crackles with authenticity—equal parts loyalty, exasperation, and laugh-out-loud banter.  

What sets One of Them Days apart is its meticulous attention to ’90s detail. This isn’t just a superficial nod to the era; it’s a full immersion. The costume design screams 1995: Dreux rocks oversized windbreakers and high-top fades, while Alyssa’s crop tops and bandana skirts evoke peak MTV Spring Break vibes. 

Set designers have fun with cluttered apartments plastered with Tupac posters, chunky cordless phones, and a VHS collection that’ll make Gen X’ers weep. The soundtrack is a time capsule of funk, hip-hop, and R&B bangers—think Aaliyah remixes and Ready to Die deep cuts—that’ll have you Shazam-ing every few minutes. Even the dialogue drips with period-specific slang (“That’s whack!” “You got beef?”), delivered with such authenticity you’ll swear the script was unearthed from a ’90s time capsule.  

Yet the film avoids feeling like a parody. Instead, it uses nostalgia as a lens to highlight universal themes: friendship, hustle culture, and the art of turning life’s curveballs into inside jokes. Younger viewers might not catch every reference (RIP Blockbuster), but the film’s warmth and humour transcend generational divides.  

At its core, One of Them Days is a comedy, and boy it delivers. Keke Palmer shines as Dreux, the pragmatic schemer with a heart of gold, balancing sarcastic one-liners with genuine vulnerability. SZA, in her acting debut, proves a natural as Alyssa, whose chaotic optimism masks a fear of failure. Their dynamic—think (Girls Trip) meets (Set It Off)—is the film’s beating heart. Whether they’re haggling with a shady pawn shop owner (a riotous Vanessa Bell Calloway) or crashing a bougie rooftop party to “borrow” cash, their chemistry is magnetic.  

The humour ranges from slapstick silliness (Dreux’s ill-fated attempt to sell homemade “designer” jeans) to sharp, character-driven wit. A standout sequence involves a Home Alone-esque showdown with their nosy landlord (a gloriously grumpy Calloway), complete with booby traps and a climax set to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It.” Lawrence Lamont’s direction keeps the pacing tight, letting the jokes breathe while leaning into the era’s chaotic charm.  

Lamont balances frenetic energy with quiet moments of sincerity. A late-night scene at a diner, where Dreux and Alyssa confront their fears of adulthood over neon-lit pancakes, feels ripped from a ’90s coming-of-age gem. The stakes—avoiding eviction, salvaging pride—are small but deeply relatable, grounding the absurdity in emotional truth. Even the supporting cast (including a scene-stealing conspiracy theorist neighbour and a stoner pizza delivery guy) gets moments to shine, echoing the ensemble magic of Living Single.  

One of Them Days isn’t just a movie; it’s a vibe. For those who lived through the ’90s, it’s a warm hug of nostalgia, a reminder of Tamagotchis, Yo! MTV Raps, and the joy of unplugged mischief. For newcomers, it’s a gateway to understanding why the decade remains so beloved. Keke Palmer and SZA’s star power, paired with Lamont’s affectionate direction, makes this more than a retro throwback—it’s a celebration of resilience, friendship, and the messy glory of youth.  

As the credits rolled at Vue Leicester Square, the crowd’s applause echoed the tweet that inspired this review: “Damn, I miss the ’90s!” One of Them Days doesn’t just make you miss the era; it makes you feel like you never left. Grab your crew, channel your inner Kid ‘n Play, and get ready to laugh until your sides hurt. This is one party you won’t want to miss.