DIY VIRAL
We love a comedy between friends it makes you laugh, and One of these days delivers at all levels.
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Directed by Laurent LamontThe film brings together the dynamic duo of Keke Palmer and SZA as two best friends navigating chaos, comedy, and missing rent money. BOSSIP Senior Content Director Janeé Bolden sat down with Lawrence to talk about her new approach to genre, creating a universal story, and the possibility of transforming One of these days free.
Reinventing Buddy Comedy
For Lamont, creating a new take on the buddy comedy genre meant paying homage to the classics while breaking new ground.
“I think I am the sum of my influences,” Lamont said. “I studied so many filmmakers – Spike Lee, John Singleton, the Hughes Brothers – and these directors made wonderful films in Los Angeles. But to your point, I've never really seen one like this before.
Lamont took inspiration from iconic comedies like Superbad and Friday while focusing on originality. “Being so original on the page has already made it easier. And I step back and say, “Wow, that really wasn't a buddy comedy with two black women.” » Yeah, you know, think about BAPS and then it's like, why is that the only one? So keeping originality while keeping that magic of 90s films was one of my big goals.
Keke and SZA take on physical comedy
The physical comedy in One of Them Days is a remarkable feature, but did Lamont have to convince his stars to engage in wilder scenes?
“I’m not saying I had to beg them,” Lamont said. “We were all having so much fun. We knew what this movie was. We know it's crazy, but in the same vein, I never wanted things to seem crazy or slapstick.
For SZA, her gymnastics training came in handy.
“Everything I thought she could push back on, like climbing poles, the whole race, she leaned into it, which was really cool,” Lamont said.
Balancing Los Angeles vibes with universal appeal
While One of these days has a distinctly LA vibe, Lamont intended to make the story accessible no matter where viewers were from.
“I knew I was going into a studio film, so being completely grounded can't translate to the wider world,” Lamont explained. “I wanted it to be authentic, but I also wanted it to feel like you were anywhere, like you were from anywhere. This could happen in Philadelphia, Atlanta or London. It was definitely intentional.
Source: Paras Griffin/Getty
A dream casting
The film's ensemble cast and cameos add even more comedic firepower, with Katt Williams, Janelle James, Amin Joseph, and Lil Rel among the big names.
“When the idea of Katt came up that we could possibly have him play Lucky, I was like praying,” Lamont revealed. “I had my director meeting and we were aligned on visions. He knew exactly what to do and, honestly, he was in character the whole time.
Room for a sequel?
The end of One of these days leaves the door open to other adventures, and Lamont is already considering a franchise.
“I watch movies like Friday, even movies like The Hangover,” Lamont said. “You can do Another One of Them Days, and we don’t know what happened. Their apartment burned down, we give you a taste of the situation perhaps a few months later. But I think there's more than enough room for this to not only have a sequel, but also just to be a huge franchise.
With a revolutionary approach to buddy comedies, a hilarious cast and a fresh take on friendship, One of these days has all the makings of an instant classic. Experience the magic in theaters and don't be surprised if this is just the start of a comedy series you'll be talking about for years to come.
One of these days is in theaters now!
DIY VIRAL
