By Eniola Daniel
12 March 2025 |
8:28 am
When Omoni Oboli introduced her film Love In Each Phrase, her followers and, by extension, Nigerians had been joyful due to the actress’s pedigree and a focus to element in decoding no matter position she’s given to play in motion pictures. Nonetheless, it was a shock film because it was introduced weeks after Valentine’s, not like different romantic motion pictures, which…
When Omoni Oboli introduced her film Love In Each Phrase, her followers and, by extension, Nigerians had been joyful due to the actress’s pedigree and a focus to element in decoding no matter position she’s given to play in motion pictures.
Nonetheless, it was a shock film because it was introduced weeks after Valentine’s, not like different romantic motion pictures, that are often introduced in the course of the Valentine’s interval. Followers had been extra curious in regards to the movie, suspecting that Nollywood legend Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) would make an look resulting from its announcement a couple of weeks after the image of Oboli and RMD kissing went viral.
When it was clear that RMD was not a part of the challenge, Uzor Arukwe (Odogwu), being the lead actor, made followers turn out to be curious and anxious to see one thing chilling and refreshing, anticipating Arukwe to drag a stellar efficiency simply as he did in Bimbo Ademoye’s film Fame and Fury and his spectacular efficiency in Roberta Orioma’s challenge Grind.
Months after enjoying the position of Paul Adefemi in Fame and Fury, followers are but to recover from his ‘villainous’ position, and when the poster for Love In Each Phrase was posted by Ms. Oboli, Nigerians began counting the times for the film to drop.
With Omoni Oboli’s recognition and followers’ curiosity, Love In Each Phrase recorded huge viewership. The movie crossed 5 million views on YouTube in lower than 72 hours.
Regardless of the hype, the film couldn’t ship a convincing message to the viewers.
First, the ‘wonderful’ Ifunanya’s introduction, touted at first of the film, was not delivered, to the shock of followers. Everyone knows the flamboyant nature of weddings in Nigeria, particularly among the many Yorubas and the Igbos, however Omoni Oboli did not ship the introduction (there was no introduction scene or Ifunanya), the identical motive Chioma left Lagos for Anambra earlier than crossing paths with Obiora (Odogwu).
Whereas Odogwu and Chioma’s roles had been delivered by each Arukwe and Bamike Olawunmi, popularly often called Bambam, there have been errors the director did not right. As an example, Odogwu consuming together with his cap on in the home together with his lover is off—not a billionaire angle however that of a classless man. The lousiness of Odogwu didn’t equally painting the Igbos as refined and implies that each Igbo with cash is awful and never cautious of their setting.
There’s no single bodyguard or safety personnel round Odogwu, as each Tom, Dick, and Harry bumps into Odogwu with no questions being requested.
Love is giving, however Love In Each Phrase glorifies cash and presents in alternate for love, a pattern that has turn out to be a norm in right this moment’s Nigeria. It gives the look of No-Cash-No-Love.
In a rustic the place a person with cash continually lavishes his love curiosity with presents even and not using a outlined technique of earnings, Love In Each Phrase didn’t state the character of Odogwu’s enterprise, and Odogwu is seen as an intentional man showering Chioma with costly presents.
The film reinforces a couple of unsuitable stereotypes about Igbo males. It units unrealistic requirements relating to courting and discovering love, a mindset that must be corrected, contemplating that something being dished out to viewers tends to be emulated and amplified.
The concept of a father or mother making an attempt to play matchmaker to safe wealth, like Chioma’s mother did, isn’t one thing that must be inspired for leisure functions.
Love In Each Phrase equally lacks suspense, because it was fairly predictable from the primary few scenes.
The film portrays girls as property to be owned by males so long as they’ve the cash to squander. It additionally ridicules Lagos women, portraying them as women who would quite eat out and can’t prepare dinner for themselves and their households.
Nonetheless, Omoni Oboli executed the challenge with a watch for good areas, clear visuals, and superb costumes.
Love In Each Phrase glorifies cash over emotion.
Chioma fell for Obiora (Odogwu) primarily due to his monetary muscle. If he had all the opposite admirable qualities however lacked wealth, would she have even seemed his manner? Extremely uncertain.
Obiora buying a complete constructing the place Chioma’s workplace is positioned simply to get her telephone quantity feels absurd and unrealistic—until, in fact, we’re speaking in regards to the extremes of wealth and obsession in right this moment’s Nigeria. At its core, Love In Each Phrase appears to push the narrative that cash, quite than real love, is the true key to romance.
Whereas the movie has its flaws, we should give credit score the place it’s due. Uzor Arukwe and Bambam delivered stellar performances, proving why they deserve extra accolades.
