In today’s Dramedy, Kunle Afolayan beautifully captures what is a near-flawless and authentic feel of all it entails to have a truly Nigerian Christmas.
Set on carrying out their mother, Madam Agatha’s (Rachael Oniga) one wish, her three sons, Ugo (Kunle Remi) the first son, a renowned playboy and music producer who is deeply indebted to a big-time Shylock “Tony Torpedo” (Lateef Adedimeji), Obi (Efa Iwara), the middle son, a techie who struggles with a speech-slur and Chike (Abayomi Alvin), the youngest son who is smitten by an older married woman, Samantha (Mercy Johnson Okojie) have to scramble to find wives they can bring home by Christmas while their mother sets out to plan the most beautiful Christmas celebration ever.
How it was in the land overflowing with milk and honey this movie is bountiful in credits! There is something to make viewers smile in almost every scene.
Kudos to Kunle Afolayan for ensuring the acting in this movie is spot on. Kunle Remi as Ugo stood out in his performance in this screenplay; he was not just funny, he was entertaining as well. Rachael Oniga of blessed memory’s acting is so heart-warming on screen. Segilola Ogidan as Ajike, a strong, self-confident woman is absolutely refreshing on screen. Efa Iwara showcases his versatility as he plays a role quite diverse from what viewers are used to and he does so quite well. Generally, the cast and acting is one of this screenplay’s biggest upsides.
It is beautiful how the movie captures what Christmas really is to most Nigerians – the culture, the preparation, the spirit of giving, all the fuss. It is a sight to behold.
Landscaping in this movie is commendable. It is beautiful how the camera crew is able to aesthetically capture the difference between the bourgeoisie and proletariats of Lagos.
The theme of coming together and oneness the movie promotes is another beautiful part of the mix, I mean, it would not be a true Christmas movie without unity, right? Right.
Great script! The humour comes in all the right places and it is not overcooked. It’s also a thumbs up on diction and dialogue, the conversations do not go on too long or end too abruptly. It is mostly done just right.
Guess what? There are little to no unnecessary scenes in this movie! I know! Big shocker as that seems to be the order of the day. Instead of the regular unnecessary scenes, this screenplay has an overflow of simply beautiful scenes, the kind that will have viewers smiling ear-to-ear every so often.
The only downside here is there are a little too many clichés in a bid to make it feel more “Nigerian” but those clichés are buried in the landslide of pluses.
It is easy to come across Christmas movies but it is super rare to stumble on Christmas movies that feel so close to home. Today’s screenplay captures the values of family and spreading love. Check A Naija Christmas out on Netflix today and have a feel of the homey festivities on screen.
Didi Dan-Asisah is an art enthusiast and critic. She lives in Lagos.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
