Director: Ikechukwu Onyeka
Producer: Morris Sesay
Cast: Ginnefine Kanu, Funky Mallam, Mercy Johnson, Hafiz Oyetoro, Emem Ufot, Adah Ameh
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes
Our Husband comes off as a casual comedy at most. Easygoing like it had all the time in the world, like a TV Soap, with not enough suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat. The story follows Baba Adiza (Hafeez Oyetoro) and his escapades in and outside his polygamous home. His two wives (Adah Ameh and Mercy Johnson) wouldn’t stop fighting. He wouldn’t have it in his house, so in a bid to proffer peace, he announces he’s taking a third wife – Adanse (Gineffine Kanu). It was obvious from the onset that Adanse (who’d moved from a job applicant at his cement shop to the coveted position in his home) was warming her way into his heart only to cause trouble. Hafeez Oyetoro played his greedy womanizer role to satisfactory success. Mercy Johnson was rightly hyper-active for an irate junior wife. Her performance only began to feel plastic as her curses became frequent and loud.
Baba Adiza’s fight with his customers, earlier on in the film -despite his wives getting involved- looked neither serious nor fatal. The fight was over before it’d started. There was also no reason for his hot water massage later on, except for another take at comedy that didn’t work. The film’s unexciting side attractions were saved by Emem Ufot (A Soldier’s Story) starring as Tony. His beard combined with his attire made his character really hit home. From Full House to Behind the Wheels and A Soldier’s Story, Emem Ufot has shown his versatility in diverse genres.
Directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka (Mr & Mrs), Our Husband is simple comedy with the funniest parts recorded in scenes the actors would’ve least expected. The visuals were crispy clear, the audio quality too. But the only time sound effects were used properly (comically or noticeably) was when the Funky Mallam (North East) came into Baba Adiza’s shop to ask for Adanse’s hand in marriage. This film highlights the dangers of trying to eat more than one can chew. And in the end, it’s a greedy rigmarole to unveiling dirty secrets, lustful schemes, and obscure characters (like Morris Sesay playing Adanse’s shadowy boyfriend).
Our Husband is rated 3/10 for it’s hilarious but far-from-inspiring content. You can find it on IrokoTV‘s YouTube channel.
