If you’re looking for a film to make you laugh and angry at the same time and you’ve maybe exhausted all the films on YouTube and Netflix, why not give this 2023 dramedy titled “SMALL TALK” on Prime Video a try?

Featuring a handful of comedians & skit makers with Adebowale Adedayo (Mr. Macaroni) having his lead role debut as Baba Dee here, to Lizzy Jay as his character’s wife to Lasisi Elenu playing detective Okoh who possesses a rather shapeshifting accent to Isbae U…you name it…

…I guess adding Taaoma to this mix or Brain Jotter or investor Sabinus would probably have been the icing on the cake. Oh please scratch that! It’s possible that would have been like adding too much ingredients that ruins a good pot of soup. So the cast was just about the right amount

SYNOPSIS: (MAY contain spoilers)

Written by Gift Collins & directed by Biodun Stephen, this comedy drama tells the story of Seyi (Taye Arimoro) who has just returned from the UK with his wife Eneh (Moet Abebe). While Seyi is trusting of his staff especially Baba Dee his chauffeur, his wife on the other hand, has her reservations. When the couple gets attacked by thieves in the evening of their arrival, carting away with their £20,000, the primary suspect is Baba Dee. The question is, is he guilty?

Casting/Performance:

This film made me laugh for real. The casting was good and the acting was okay. Lasisi did a thing with the African-American accent. Boy! Did he crack me up! From Massachusetts to Mississippi to New York Tennessee…! Ah! Oga, stay one place, bayi!

Mr. Macaroni also did well. At some point, I felt like giving him a släp through my screen with the excess talk (in line with the character he portrayed though).

Moet Abebe; my goodness! That lady speaks well

All the actors did great to be honest!

Lessons:

1. Although a person may not have evil intentions, little talks here and there could put them or someone close to them in trouble. Hence, we must mind how we talk.

2. Being kind hurts no one. Mr. Seyi was kind to the T.

3. Small talks can lead to big problems.

Observations/Questions:

1. They may have forgotten that Baba Dee was limping at the start of the film. We later saw him walking well. Did he get well?

2. The film didn’t tell us if Baba Dee was suffering from a mental disorder or weakness of over sharing with his obsessive repetition of “my Oga will land at the airport at exactly 10-hay-hem” telling everyone who cares to listen

3. The plot twist was watery. In fact, we can’t even consider that a plot twist.

4. It would have been lovely to see Baba Dee’s daughter. We only know her name is Angel. We didn’t see her face, shape or form. Was this for lack of actors to play the role or for limitations on finance?

5. The flashbacks worked but it could be confusing for some viewers who may not be able to understand which was real and which wasn’t

Conclusion:

Overall, this was a good watch. Interesting, funny, entertaining, relaxing and compelling. Normally, when a comedy features too many comedians, it often struggles to deliver. This was however balanced.

Lasisi’s presence & overall delivery here readily brings to mind the film “The Razz Guy” on Netflix where he played Temi Johnson. Kudos to the cast & crew. Great picture quality, great sound and commendable costuming and makeup.

Verdict: 6/10

Have you seen this? What did you think?