Tòkunbò is an intense Nollywood thriller directed by Ramsey Nouah.
The film takes viewers on a high-stakes journey, blending action with emotional depth as it follows the struggles of a father trying to secure a future for his family.
The story follows Tokunbo, a former car smuggler who has left his past behind to become a cab driver. However, eighteen months later financial hardship, including his son’s dire medical needs, forces him to consider returning to his old life.
The tension ramps up when Tokunbo gets pulled into a dangerous job with life-altering consequences, setting off a sequence of events that put his family’s safety on the line.
The Cast
Gideon Okeke takes on the role of Tokunbo, the lead character.
When we first meet Tokunbo, he is a laid-back car smuggler, venting about the struggles of life in the country. Soon after, he learns that his wife is in labor.
A close call with the police during his latest car heist prompts him to rethink his choices, deciding it’s time to pursue a more legitimate path.
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi plays the role of Folashade Balogun-Smith. As the newly appointed Central Bank governor, she plans to implement new sanctions on crypto trading companies to ensure the Nigerian currency gains some value.
Darasimi Nadi plays the role of Nike Balogun-Smith. Nike is the daughter of Folashade and is kidnapped in the movie.
Chidi Mokeme, plays the role of Gaza, a notorious criminal gang leader. We are made to understand very quickly that Gaza is ruthless and not a person to be messed with.
We are first introduced to Gaza, eighteen months prior to the events that unravel in the movie. Tokunbo at the time was still involved in car smuggling and had only just become a new father.
Tokunbo tells Gaza he is out, done with the life of crime and Gaza appears to accept his “retirement plans” albeit some skepticism.
Adunni Ade plays the role of Iya Muli, a shop owner who in the past received financial support from Gaza.
She uses the funds she received to start her restaurant business and paid back as soon as she could. However, she carefully paints a picture that there is no end date to payment for favors rendered by Gaza. She warns Tokunbo about the dangers of doing business with Gaza.
Other notable cast members are Majid Michel who plays Raymond Agba the Assistant CBN governor, Nobert Yong who plays the police chief, and Ivie Okujaye who plays Aziba, Folashade’s assistant.
What I liked about the movie?
There’s no denying that the movie was visually stunning. Everything—from the lighting and camera movement to the composition, shot selection, and even the music—was executed beautifully.
I appreciated the use of close-up shots throughout the movie, especially during key moments like when Gaza first “renders judgment” on Iya Muli’s nephew.
The camera zooms in and you watch Tokunbo purposefully walk away from his life of crime. These shots added intensity and emotion to the scenes.
The majority of the movie was intense and action-packed, but I appreciated the infusion of comedic moments. I also enjoyed the use of cross-cutting, which allowed multiple events to unfold simultaneously.
For example, in one scene, Tokunbo is engaged in a conversation with an unknown voice over the phone, while at the same time, Folashade and Bankole are arguing on the phone about Nike’s whereabouts.
The props in the movie were well-chosen, adding depth to the scenes.
A standout example is the newspaper in the car when Tokunbo tries to make small talk with his passenger. The newspaper features a picture of Folashade and mentions the Central Bank Governor’s proposed policies. This detail was especially well thought out, subtly adding context to the story.
I was particularly impressed by the film’s fast-paced narrative, which kept the story engaging and dynamic from start to finish.
The strong performances from the entire cast brought depth and authenticity to the characters, making the plot even more compelling.
Gideon Okeke stood out with his portrayal of Tokunbo, capturing the character’s transformation with nuance.
Both Funlola Aofiyebi and Darasimi Nadi delivered captivating performances, adding layers to their character and also made their scenes especially memorable. Each of them contributed to the film’s impact, elevating the story through their skillful acting.
What I did not like?
It’s frustrating to see that Nigerian movies still struggle with accurately portraying CPR. With so many instructional videos available on YouTube, it’s disappointing to watch a scene in 2024 where an unconscious person is being shaken in an attempt to wake them up. Properly depicting CPR would not only add realism to such scenes but also educate the audience about a crucial life-saving skill.
The final fight scene felt unnecessary for this particular movie, even though it was beautifully filmed. I have to commend the filmmakers for the stunning cinematography and excellent shot selection during the sequence. However, it seemed out of place within the story and would have been better suited to a different film. The quality of the filming was impressive, but the scene itself didn’t quite fit the narrative.
There were parts of the movie where I struggled with its believability.
For example, Tokunbo is portrayed as a former car smuggler who, despite his reluctance, becomes involved in a kidnapping. Yet, the story asks us to believe that the mother of his victim eventually hires him as her child’s personal bodyguard and driver, supposedly because they formed a bond during the kidnapping ordeal. This development felt unrealistic and detracted from my overall enjoyment of the film. It was a stretch that undermined the story’s credibility.
Another scene where I struggled with its believability was the actual kidnapping. It was not very creative.
Same issue I had with how quickly Nike and Tokunbo bonded. There was no reason why Nike a victim of kidnapping should have trusted Tokunbo. She didn’t overhear a phone call where he was taking about his unwilling involvement.
Again at the end of the movie, Gaza gets killed and his men who were chanting his name do nothing. The chanting of “Gaza, Gaza, Gaza” during the fight between Tokunbo and Gaza was drawn-out. It started indoors and continued outdoors even through the rain.
Would I Recommend the Movie?
I would recommend the movie Tòkunbò. It was intriguing and enjoyable to watch. All the casts performed excellently. The movie is well directed and the music is also great.
How would I rate this movie?
I would rate this a 2.5 out of 5.
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