Released on February 7, 2025, Summer Rain is a romantic drama directed by Adenike Adebayo-Esho. The movie hit cinemas in Nigeria and is perfectly timed for Valentine’s season.
Rated 18, Summer Rain focuses on the themes of first love, heartbreak, retrospection, and forgiveness. It doesn’t try to reinvent the romance genre, but its warm, unpredictable storyline kept me guessing who would end up with whom.
The Premise
Summer Rain tells the story of Murewa Abe (Bolaji Ogunmola) and Adimchi Amadi (Daniel Etim Effiong), childhood best friends who find love in their teenage years, only to be separated by circumstances beyond their control (honestly no spoilers, I want you to experience the rollercoaster of emotions I felt).
A decade later, fate brings them back together—both older, with maturity resting on their shoulders, both changed, but still carrying the baggage from their past.
The film shifts between two timelines. The younger versions of Murewa and Adimchi, played by Genoveva Umeh and Kayode Ojuolape respectively, and their present-day adult selves.
However, Summer Rain presents a contrast—the younger love story is sweet and believable, while the adult timeline depended more on melodrama. The adult actors were not able to maintain the originality the younger actors had. In a way, I guess this is understandable, as teenagers tend to be recklessly in love.
Cast and Performances
Genoveva Umeh (young Murewa) and Kayode Ojuolape (young Admichi) are the film’s strongest assets. Their raw, youthful energy makes their love story compelling. They play off each other effortlessly, the chemistry between them was ineffable, making it easy to get swept up in their budding romance.
On the other hand, Bolaji Ogunmola ( Adult Murewa) and Daniel Etim Effiong (grown Admichi) really struggled to match that same emotional depth as the youngsters.
While their performances are solid, they’re often let down by the script, which forces them into overly dramatic confrontations and dialogue that sometimes feels unnatural.
Their chemistry isn’t as electric as the younger characters the movie made us fall in love with, it only made their rekindled romance harder to fully invest in.
Supporting casts like Kachi Nnochiri and Michael O. Ejoor offer lighthearted moments as the obligatory best friends, while Femi Branch, playing Adimchi’s ailing father, delivers a performance that glides between deeply emotional and overly theatrical.
What Worked
Summer Rain thrives on emotion, and a lot of that comes from the younger cast, especially Genoveva Umeh and Kayode Ojuolape. They carry some of the film’s most heartfelt moments effortlessly.
Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematography enhances the movies romantic setting.
The soundtrack is just as thoughtful—never overpowering, but always in tune with the emotions on screen. It’s the kind of film that knows how to use its visuals and music to immerse you completely.
So much about Summer Rain works that it’s hard to leave anything out. Storytelling, directing, editing (especially those seamless transitions between past and present)—these all play a huge role in how the film came together.
What Didn’t Work
Summer Rain starts strong, but the third act tries to do too much. Instead of letting the romance unfold naturally, the film builds up unnecessary conflicts—financial troubles, a medical emergency, and even a subplot involving sexual violence that feels out of place.
The film’s emotional weight stumbles at times, especially with dialogue that feels more scripted than sincere. It’s a script, but we shouldn’t be reminded of that. Some of the film’s biggest emotional moments push too hard, coming off as forced rather than genuine.
While the younger love story is easily the film’s strongest aspect, the present-day timeline doesn’t hold up as well. It leans too much on being predictable and lacks the emotional buildup needed to make its resolution satisfying.
Verdict
Summer Rain is a romance movie that knows its audience. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s sweet enough to hold attention, especially thanks to the younger cast.
So, if you’re looking for a deep, thought-provoking love story, this isn’t it. But if you are interested in seeing two young people fall in love, with moments of charm and beautiful acting, then Summer Rain delivers just enough to be worth a watch.
My Rating
I would rate this movie a 3.5 out of 5 Stars.
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