Dinner at my Place is a Kevin Luther Apaa directed hysterical rom-com that tells the story of Nonso (Timini Egbuson), an orphan who plans to propose to his girlfriend (Sophie Alakija) over dinner. But then, he loses the expensive ring inside the stew he is preparing and his dramatic ex-girlfriend (Bisola Aiyeola) shows up looking for a place to stay, this simple romantic plan seems to go suddenly awry.
Dinner at my Place is fun. The romance between Nonso and his girlfriend is believable. Bisola Aiyeola shines in a role that would have been a tad too overbearing and one-dimensional. She is a stellar actress and actually added a bit of spice to this otherwise forgettable story.
The movie did seem to lose the thread of the story halfway through. The comedy aspect of rom-com often crossed the thin line from hysterical to cringe-fest but the love story was very nicely done.
By the end of the movie, though, the plot unraveled into absolute chaos. Where the story seems to be trundling along somewhat agreeably, the weak climax and filler scenes take away from what would have been an otherwise enjoyable experience. It confuses and loses the audience in multiple places and leaves them laughing at the film itself, not the jokes being told.
Other than the iffy ending, Dinner at my place does deliver, at least a little bit of what it offers at first. A sweet love story with a hapless main character and a love interest the audience can love.
If you’re a fan of rom-coms that switch up halfway into pure hilarity and dodgy comedy, this movie is especially for you. You can watch Dinner at my place at cinemas across the country.
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.
