Currently showing on Prime Video is the movie Christmas in Lagos. The movie is directed by Jade Osiberu.
The Premise
The movie primarily centers around the lives of three women—Gbemi, her daughter Fiyin, and Ivie, who is a cousin to Fiyin—as they navigate love, relationships, and self-discovery during the festive season.
Gbemi is torn between two love interests – her current boyfriend Toye and her wealthy ex, Zach Dolo.
Fiyin is convinced she is in love with her best friend Elo.
Ivie, on the other hand, arrives in Lagos for Detty December.
She has the mindset of just having a good time, enjoying the parties, the music, the food, Lagos-life, and returning back to London once the holidays are over. She is not looking for any romantic commitment.
There were other supporting storylines that added to the movie, including Ivie’s budding romance with a guitarist named Ajani and the relationship between Ladi, an aspiring fashion designer, and Chisom, a delivery driver.
Performances and Characters
The cast of Christmas in Lagos delivers exceptional performances.
At the start of the movie we are introduced to Fiyin, played by Teniola Aladese. She is a young woman, who heads to the airport to pick up her cousin Ivie (played by Rayxia Ojo) and her best friend Elo (played by Shalom Obiago).
We are made to believe that Fiyin harbors unspoken feelings for Elo.
Fiyin’s joy is shortly lived as Elo tells both women that he has met a woman named Yagazie (played by Angelo Anosike), who he dated for 8 months and would be proposing to.
We are also introduced to Gbemi, played by Shaffy Bello.
At the start of the movie her driver gets into an accident and she ends up reconnecting with her old billionaire boyfriend Zach Dolo, played by Richard Mofe-Damijo.
Zach takes the opportunity to reconnect with Gbemi and starts showering her with gifts even though she lets him know that she is currently in a relationship with another man, Toye, played by Wale Ojo.
Shaffy Bello’s character shines as a woman juggling past and present relationships.
The story also follows how Ivie meets a guitarist named Ajani and how a relationship develops between them.
Another storyline was the relationship between Ladi, played by Tris Udeh and Chisom played by Obinna Okenma.
What I Liked About the Christmas in Lagos Movie
I loved the banter and chemistry between Gbemi and Zach. The flirting, words, everything was spot on. I smiled all through. I am a big Richard Mofe-Damijo fan but on this one, I was routing for the other guy. Uncle Toye all the way!
I love how they incorporated local languages into the movie. It made it more authentic.
The music, cinematography, costume, sound, were all executed perfectly.
With regard to the music, I love how they incorporated songs we already know as well as songs originally written by known artist. I heard Bright Chimezie’s African Style and took a walk down memory lane.
The life performances were my favorite parts. There were star performances that blew me away but in general the music for this movie was absolutely fantastic. If Nigerian music appeals to you, you would find yourself singing and possibly dancing along.
I also like how they introduced facts to us. For example, they did an excellent job in letting us know about Elo’s sister and his moms feelings about the holiday. I liked how what happened to her wasn’t just spelt out but carefully introduced.
What I Didn’t Like About the Movie
Even though the movie is 2 hours long, there were very few parts I did not like.
One part I thought went on a little too long was regarding the hors d’oeuvre on the wedding day. I understood that they needed to connect inviting Ajani and Ladi to the wedding but it could have been wrapped up a little tighter.
I won’t say I did not like the walking through the water for the proposal but it gave me Crazy Rich Asians vibe. It was a great scene and I enjoyed it but I had seen it done before so a few deductions here.
Would I Recommend the Movie?
Absolutely! Christmas in Lagos is one of the best Nollywood movies I’ve seen. It is a must-watch for the holiday season.
How Would I Rate This Movie?
I would rate it 4.5 out of 5.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
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