Waitress Dreux Jones (Keke Palmer) and aspiring artist Alyssa (SZA) live together along with Alyssa’s boyfriend Keshawn (Joshua Neal) in a rundown apartment complex under a strict landlord. When the first of the month arrives, their landlord demands their rent money of $1,500, stating that they will be evicted unless they pay by 6pm, even though both Dreux and Alyssa thought it was already paid. When they realise that Keshawn has taken the rent money, they have to scramble to find him and the money.
There is a real energy to both Lawrence Lamont’s direction, Ava Berkofsky cinematography and Syreeta Singleton’s screenplay. The story fizzes along as the pair suffer one misfortune after another, with the added complication that Dreux has an interview for a desperately needed promotion scheduled at 4pm.
It took me a while to warm to the reckless Alyssa but I really felt for Dreux with Palmer giving a terrifically engaging performance. During the day they meet a wonderful group of oddball characters including Katt Williams as a street character they keep bumping into, Gabrielle Dennis as Dreux’s interviewer and Keyla Monterroso Mejia who is hilarious as an administrator at a payday loans company.
This is a fresh and funny film and I am now expecting great things from Palmer and Lamont in particular.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10