The Ekene Som Mekwunye-directed Nollywood comedy crime-thriller stirred up quite the buzz. Is it all it is cranked up to be?
One Lagos Night follows the story of two jobless friends, Ehiz (Ikponmwosa Gold) and Tayo (Frank Donga) who seem to be at loggerheads with luck. Due to their seeming ill fate, they plan to rob the home of a wealthy woman. In the process of planning, it is somewhat clear that they are doomed to fail owing to their inexperience in the field and sheer desperation, but they proceed with the plan anyway. On the day of the heist, they are faced with a surprise: they find themselves in a room with another set of experienced armed robbers who had the exact same idea.
The rest of the movie follows the drama that ensues due to this unlikely turn of event.
One Night in Lagos is intriguing from the first scene – the way the story is told, the screenplay holds a promise of intrigue, though it is not fully actualised. But it has an interesting enough concept at the beginning and viewers find themselves immediately invested in the story.
One Lagos Night movie
The screenplay maintained a relatable dialogue all through the movie, which made it easier to sit through. The language was not overkill, especially in the narrative aspect: it was smooth, straightforward, clear and simple. To be fair, the movie stops trying too hard to be a thriller so it works perfectly for them.
There is a unique spice of humour littered all through the movie, which has a certain charm even when it seems a little overdone. It is tolerable and somehow works altogether.
The thing that works the most in this screenplay is the undeniable chemistry between its two lead characters, Ehiz and Tayo. Both actors shielded their shortcomings throughout effortlessly. The seamless blend between the two characters gives their role a realistic feel, as though viewers are watching two actual friends on screen.
Unfortunately, it can’t all be roses and sunshine. In what is supposed to be a comedy crime-thriller, the director seems to have made a pure comedy. It’s a case of all laughs and little-to-no-drama, which comes off as a bit disappointing and leaves nothing to keep the viewers at the edge of their seat.
There is a lot of improv in this screenplay between the lead characters. This just didn’t work in all the scenes, particularly the robbery scene, which should naturally elicit a lot of laughs, but it just did not because there was a lot of free styling and zero structure, which led to poorly executed acting. Although Ehiz and Tayo are great comedians, they could have used a little more direction with the aid of a script.
The general plot seems to deteriorate from being funny to downright unserious. Even in the supposed intense moments, there is no sense of dread or doom. This has viewers questioning if it is truly a comedy crime-thriller or plain ol’ slapstick comedy.
In more ways than one, One Lagos Night has its flaws but it’s still a fun watch. Looking for something to help cool off the day’s stress? Check One Lagos Night out on Netflix.
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.
