Take One! One of Them Days
“You look real alopeciaous today.”
I will admit, I was apprehensive to see this at first. Really apprehensive. But, thanks to a coworker and comedian Ellen Cleghorne who sang its praises on Instagram ( “Think Friday with women in the lead doing it for the culture,” she said. )I caved.
Good cave.
Quick synopsis, round-the-way besties/roommates, Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (Sza) are two broke girls of South Central who need to come up with money to pay off rent and eventually a gangster by the end of the day. The path to the money is blocked by cheating boyfriends, a big bootied vixen, “tumbleweeave”, and Hot Cheeto Martinis, and general bad luck while their friendship is put to the test.
A couple of minutes in, I was already invested, and in In less than fifteen minutes in, I got the first of several genuine laughs out loud. The sister cracking up in the row in front of me cackling at all of the same moments I did definitely didn’t hurt.
The casting was definitely a nice smattering of Black Hollywood. Keke Palmer always delivers and definitely shoulders the film as the straight-ish main character (but do worry, she get to definitely gets to show a little edge and some spice.) Sza was great! I think this is her first role but you wouldn’t have known. She felt very natural. Vanessa Bell Calloway--- yes, THAT Vanessa Bell Callaway was a pleasant surprise. As was Kat Williams. Janelle James was also a big part of another laugh out loud moment. The rest of the cast was great and there were plenty of people that I didn’t necessarily know by name but recognized as well as a few new faces I am sure will be seeing elsewhere.
So many funny moments. I was also pleasantly surprised when she got to the the “you lucky she holdin’ me back line” which she repeated in the trailer which I found extremely corner and a large part of my initial hesitance in seeing the movie in the first place, was only uttered once and downplayed, so score!
I will admit it did take a few unnecessary turns toward the end and though only an hour and 37, it felt a little longer by the end, still, I had a good time which, at the end of the day, is what you want from a movie like this. Would I watch it again, sure. There are probably a few subtle jokes I missed the first time so for that alone, it would be work a revisit.
I haven’t come up with a solid rating system, so for now, I guess the old scale of 1-10 works.
My score: 7
Alright, that about does it for this time. Until next week when I review…. Whatever the heck I feel like seeing… have yourself a Hot Cheeto Martini and try not to be a wretched individual…
