Movie Review: Everybody Loves Jenifa so much they ignore its disjointed plots

One remarkable quality of Nigerians is their unwavering ability to show up. When they genuinely care, they make it a priority, often going above and beyond to show their support.

Considering the biting economy, one should not be surprised if people can no longer afford to go to the cinema.

However, with the crowd that pulled up to watch Everybody Loves Jenifa? I say, when Nigerians love you, they love you.

Jenifa (Funke Akindele) is a renowned character that has established herself as a household name in Nollywood for over 16 years.

With her captivating character arc, she has not only entertained audiences but also resonated deeply within Nigerian culture.

Her popularity continues to grow —making her one of the most memorable characters in Nollywood.

From the first Jenifa (2008), to its feature sequel, The Return of Jenifa (2011) to reboot television series, Jenifa’s Diary (2015) — Nigerians hold a special place for the character, Jenifa.

Yesterday, I sat watching Everybody Loves Jenifa on the big screen in a cinema room filled to the brim. After the credits rolled, I realised what it truly means for Nigerians to love someone.

Through its disjointed plots yet salient themes, everybody laughed, clapped, giggled and followed the story satisfactorily till the end—Everybody just loved Jenifa.

Plot of ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’

The film begins with Jenifa as the ‘heroine’ of the day. She defies a burning fire to save a child in her estate, Amen Estate.

This is a hook that keeps you glued to your seat and arouses anticipation. Jenifa’s relationship with estate residents reflects how much they love her and appreciate her selflessness.

Along the line, new neighbours were introduced, Lobster (Stan Nze) and his wife Oliver (Nancy Isime). Lobster’s shady appearance kicks off the inciting incident.

Jenifa and Lobster are both in the NGO business. When he tries to outshine her work, Jenifa approaches him for a collaboration, he turns her down.

On one of her visits, Jenifa unknowingly walks in on Lobster hitting his wife during an argument. Jenifa takes up the domestic violence case.

She threatens to expose Lobster and this reveals the dangerous side of Lobster. This plot to get everyone to see Lobster for who he is drives the story until Jenifa gets a call to go to Ghana.

In Ghana, the plot switches to Jenifa and her friends navigating their escape from a deadly drug baron. A bag of drugs was unknowingly kept in their lodge.

Some days later, the owners returned to get it but it was missing. Who took the bag? This drives the second part of the plot until the credits roll.

Reviewing ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’

Only love for Jenifa can make you ignore the disjointed plots evident in the film, Everybody Loves Jenifa. While it nails its comedy-drama bucket list to give you an entertaining experience, it raises more questions than answers.

What is the film truly about? Is it about Oliver’s domestic violence and seeking justice? Is it about Jenifa and Shege’s (Falz) love story?

Is it about Madam Bassey’s domestic violence survivor story? Is it about proving how much everyone loves Jenifa? These questions ran through my mind as I watched.

Everybody Loves Jenifa’s disjointed plots, I believe, are tied around its attempt to explore two different plots in two different settings; Lagos and Ghana.

This is the prominent flaw in Everybody Loves Jenifa. There were too many things going on that made it easy to lose track of characters and the direction of the film.

Not to be a hater, there were moments I absolutely enjoyed in the film. I mean, I loved its salient themes like domestic violence, drug trafficking, love, friendship and humanitarian activities. However, focusing on one major theme and revealing others subtly as subplots would have helped.

I loved the chemistry between Jenifa and Shege. Their love is an angle that delivers memorable ‘awwwnn’ moments that leave you grinning.

The star-studded appearances in Everybody Loves Jenifa raise questions as well. Did their characters necessarily drive the story? For instance, I think Patience Ozokwor’s character, if scrapped, will have no effect on the story.

I’m particularly impressed with Rex (Layi Wasabi) and Madam Bassey (Bisola Aiyeola) characters. It is commendable to see them step out of their usual roles and put their best foot forward.

Layi Wasabi aside, Jenifa also contributed to the comic relief the film needed. Not too much, just the right kind. The movie also shines in its cinematography, production design and costume.

Final thoughts

As far as the story development of Everybody Loves Jenifa goes, it suffers from disjointed plots. Story is the soul of a film and for many, is all that matters. Instead of delving deep into the sensitivity of its plots, it merely scratches the surface.

The star-studded nature of the film also affected its exploration of back stories and character motivations. This could have drawn more empathy from viewers.

Despite its disjointed plots and poor character development, one thing Nigerians would find interesting is its familiarity as the latest instalment of the popular Jenifa franchise. Truly, Everybody loves Jenifa.

#THERADAR