Everybody Loves Jenifa Review - Worth The Hype Or Not?

Everybody Loves Jenifa is a 2024 Nollywood blockbuster movie currently showing in cinemas in Nigeria with a runtime of 135 minutes.

The Box Office breaking movie was written by Funkle Akindele, Akinlabi Ishola, Collins Okoh and Stephen Oluboyo, and Directed by Funke herself and her amazing co-director Tunde Olaoye.

It’s production and marketing was done by FAAN (Funke Akindele Network) and Film One Entertainment.

This movie is one joyride you wouldn’t want to miss, each scene left its viewers with an ‘aha!’ moment.

Premise

Everybody Loves Jenifa, is a wrap up of the series “Jenifa’s diary” way back in 2009 a time when almost every household anticipated watching this series on their screen.

The movie kicks off in AMEN Estate—Jenifa’s crib for the soft life. Her business is booming, her NGO is making waves, and life is sweet. But trouble shows up in the form of Mr. Lobster (Stan Nze), a domestic violence perpetrator disguised as a philanthropist. Jenifa witnesses him beating his wife (Nancy Isime) into a coma, and instead of minding her business (as some Lagosians might advise), she takes it upon herself to get justice.

Teaming up with Madam Bassey (Bisola Aiyeola in full “overacting” mode), Jenifa tries to expose Lobster, but the stakes get high—death threats, break-ins, and a whole lot of gbagaun-filled drama.

Just when you think the movie is a social commentary, it suddenly takes a detour into crime thriller territory. A work trip to Ghana turns into a cartel war when Jenifa and her friends get caught in a drug ring mix-up. The result? A chaotic, unpredictable adventure packed fuller than a plate of party jollof.

Cast and Performances

Now, to be honest—this movie doesn’t pretend to be deep. It’s big, loud, and features a Nollywood Avengers lineup: Hilda Baci, Lagbaja, D’Banj, Veekee James, and almost everyone who’s anybody in Nollywood makes an appearance. The film is stuffed with cameos. Some appearances add charm, others feel like a checklist of “who’s trending?” The star power alone will have fans screaming, but the plot struggles to keep up.

The biggest win? Falz as Shege. His chemistry with Jenifa brings a refreshing softness to all the chaos. Falz as Shege, Jenifa’s love interest, gives the movie a touch of romance. His chemistry with Funke Akindele reminds us why we fell in love with Jenifa’s charm in the first place.

Layi Wasabi as Rex, Shege’s sidekick, steals every scene he’s in, delivering the kind of effortless humor that the movie desperately needs more of. Jackie Appiah shines as drug baron Bebe, clearly having the time of her life.

Although Everybody does love Jenifa—Jenifa herself doesn’t quite hit the way she used to. In 2008, she was the awkward underdog we rooted for. Here, she feels more like a caricature of herself, surrounded by equally exaggerated characters. Adaku’s obsession with food, Madam Bassey’s limp and lisp—these not-so-wanted extra acting feel forced and unnecessary.

What Worked

The Running Joke: The recurring gag of people correcting Jenifa’s grammar—even in life-threatening situations—is pure gold. Imagine someone pointing a gun at you, and your response is, “Oga, it’s were, not was.” Ridiculous? Yes. Hilarious? Also yes.

Falz and Layi Wasabi: Their scenes inject much-needed charm and humor, making the film bearable even when the plot is zigzagging.

Jackie Appiah’s Drug Lord Energy: She ate up her scenes and left no crumbs.

Cameos Galore: If nothing else, Everybody Loves Jenifa doubles as a “spot the celebrity” game.

What Didn’t Work

Pacing Wahala: Some scenes drag like Lagos traffic. The movie doesn’t know how to enter late and leave early—information is repeated unnecessarily, making the first half feel like a PSA and the second half like a rushed thriller.

Overstuffed Plot: There’s a domestic violence subplot, a cartel drama, a romance arc, a tourism ad for Lagos, and unnecessary side stories that add nothing (see: Destiny Etiko’s situationship with Lobster).

Character Waste: Jaburata (Lateef Adedimeji) shows up, does his schtick, and gets a weak comeuppance. Patience Ozokwor’s character appears in two scenes and vanishes. Even Toyosi, once Jenifa’s bestie, is barely relevant.

Jenifa’s Evolution (or Lack Thereof): In Jenifa (2008), the humor came from her being a fish out of water. Here, everyone is just as exaggerated as she is, making the comedy feel forced rather than organic.

Verdict

So, does everybody really love Jenifa? Maybe the cast in the movie did after her nosiness exposed Stan Eze’s evil deeds. But for the audience, everybody loved Shege, Rex and maybe Jenifa.

Everybody Loves Jenifa is Funke Akindele playing it safe—giving the fans what they expect without pushing any boundaries. It’s chaotic, entertaining in parts, and full of nostalgic callbacks, but ultimately, it’s a mixed bag. If you love Jenifa’s Diary, you’ll probably have fun. If you’re just looking for a solid movie, you might leave with more questions than laughs.