“One of Them Days” rode the hype machine to box office records over the weekend.
The film, starring KiKi Palmer and SZA, combines Hollywood and music royalty to form the backdrop for a buddy comedy that borrows from the long-standing tradition of side-by-side slapstick. “One of Them Days” follows two roommates as they scramble for cash to pay their rent by the end of the day, encountering misdeeds and hurdles along the way.
Early box office numbers suggest success so far. The film, aimed at drawing in audiences over the holiday weekend, raked in $14 million in its first four days of release, according to Deadline. Although the project broke even on a budget of about the same amount, it rose to the number one comedy spot in the US after “Mufasa” and second place overall. According to Deadline, the project reached 116.6 million people on social media before Friday’s release.
Due to SZA’s fame, this film represents SZA’s first serious foray into the world of acting. Having just released “Lana,” the long-awaited deluxe version of her album “SOS,” SZA’s fresh-faced talent pairs well with Palmer, a veteran of the industry. Both women have gained cult fame on the internet for their witty one-liners and serious statements.
Palmer also co-produced the film with Insecure creator Issa Rae, who is multi-talented in the entertainment industry.
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“The story is about two girls growing up in a Los Angeles neighborhood trying to find a way to make rent, but also getting into a lot of pranks and lessons along the way,” Palmer told NBC about the project. spoke. . “But it reminded me of the movies I watched as a kid about friendship, usually starring two men.”
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It was easy for SZA and Palmer to achieve critical success.
New York Times critic Natalia Winkelmann wrote, “Lamont and Singleton (screenwriter and director) mix the silly and the sincere with ease.” That pairing never wavers. On that note, hats off to SZA, especially Palmer, who lights up the screen with star-like enthusiasm. ”
Vulture also published a glowing review, with film critic Alison Wilmore saying, “Honestly, watching One of Them Days, I wonder why Palmer is now the world’s biggest… You begin to wonder if he is no longer a star, although that is part of the problem.” It’s just that she’s a creature of comedy and studios don’t make much comedy anymore. ”
“I was fascinated by SZA,” said Brittany Ruth, host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour. “She has such a warm presence on screen and I was really surprised by that. I was pleasantly surprised.”
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 96% critic score on the Tomatometer.
So far, the project has featured not only comedic elements, but also a light and meaningful take on larger social forces, such as the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle and the dangers of gentrification that plague many Americans. It has also been praised for being a kind of interrogation.