Motherhood certainly agrees with Kéké Palmer and her long-time friend Lil Rel Howery was at the forefront of his trip.

Howery, 44, and Palmer, 31, star in the upcoming buddy comedy, One of these days and while it’s a pleasure to see Palmer in action on screen, for Howery, it was even more impressive to see her succeed in her mommy duties while working.

“I’ll say this, and it has nothing to do with the movie: Honestly, watching Keke as a mom, I remember meeting her when she was much younger. She’s such a caring mom and I love seeing her,” Howery exclusively told PEOPLE at the Micheaux Film Festival in Culver City, Calif., on Oct. 27, where he received the Oscar Micheaux Trailblazer of Excellence Award.

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“I’ve had kids for a while now, so seeing my friends become new parents and seeing how excited they are to become parents is a beautiful thing.”

“Working with Keke is great. Another Chicago native (and) friend of mine,” Howery adds of his work with the True Jackson, Vice President alum.

As for their new film, Howery promises lots of laughs. “I love that we’re seeing a buddy comedy with two black women and in this really silly space. We don’t always have the opportunity to do that,” he says.

One of these days, produced by Issa Raealso stars SZA, Katt WilliamsJanelle James Keyla Monterroso Mejía, Maud ApatowJoshua Neal, Aziza Scott and Patrick Cage. Keke and her mother Sharon Palmer are also credited as executive producers. Lawrence Lamont directed the film, while Syreeta Singleton wrote its screenplay; both previously collaborated with Rae on her comedy series Max Damn rap!.

Howery continues: “We had a movie like Girls tripbut not necessarily a double front, so to be able to be a part of that and we’re all trying to find ways to bring those back Friday type of comedies and let black people be idiots. I say that sometimes our comedies get too serious and therefore it will be silly. So get ready to laugh.

Back in AugustPalmer told PEOPLE that his son Leodis “Leo” Andrellton Jackson19 months old, who she shares with her ex Darius Jackson, stays by her side no matter where she goes.

“I try to take it everywhere I go,” says the No the star told PEOPLE. “This is the funniest (sic) for me.”

“I’m just having fun watching him grow,” she later added.

“I’m very grateful to be able to have this experience,” she said. “I think it’s something that I’ve always wanted in my life. And even though it has its… I don’t even want to say ups and downs, but it has its challenges just because you want make sure you always show it to the baby.

“It pushes you, in a way, to be an even more accurate version of yourself,” she continued. “And I think that’s the process.”