With screenplay written by Doris Ariole (Firstlady D), directed by Jide JBlaze Oyegbile, produced by Audrey Harrison (also starring as Juliana/Jules) and Executively produced by Eliroze Entertainment, this movie titled “TWICE A FOOL” is currently streaming on Uchenna Mbunabo’s YouTube channel.

SYNOPSIS: (MAY contain spoilers) 

Juliana ‘Jules’ (portrayed by Audrey Harrison) and Akin (played by Timini Egbuson) are co-parenting their daughter Ruby (Michelle Oluwafemi). Juliana is Akin’s baby mama as they aren’t exactly married.

As a realtor, Juliana is fulfilled but she isn’t particularly happy with her life. Her best friends Nancy (Lina Idoko) and Abike (Amanda Ugoh) would then hatch a plan for her.

To find out if the plan worked, how it played out and the impact it had on all involved, why not grab your popcorn and/or favourite drink, munch, sip along as you follow events unfold in this drama with a runtime of 1hour 58minutes.

MY TAKE:
Quite an easy watch. Acting was good to a reasonable extent. Although editing could have been better, however, costuming/wardrobe, makeup, location and picture quality were good. The story is one of today’s world and its reality.

The plot is such that had more potentials than was let on here. The back and forth of the co-parenting thingy and all the shenanigans of the concept of wanting someone to love you so badly almost made me dizzy…I kidn’t you! 

For starters, Akin is presented as a superstar but that aspect of his character was never felt or thoroughly explored in this movie. Apart from his stylish dressing (which actually is his normal look even outside the movies), we never really got pulled into his celebrity status. Well, except for him touching some buttons in a studio-like setting and discussing co-parenting & his fear for marriage with the only client we ever saw.

Secondly, we never got to see Akin’s parents who at the end of the movie we realise form a core part of the story.

Thirdly, speaking of parents, am I the only one who didn’t understand how ‘grandma’ (portrayed by Gloria Jemedafe) was actually Juliana’s grandma? While it appeared initially like a missed line, it however carried on like a deliberate part of the story with Juliana even referring to her as ‘my grandma!’ As a result of this, I was then hoping ‘grandma’ would at some point talk about her own daughter or maybe son (Juliana’s mother or father). Alas, there wasn’t a mention of that. Or did I miss it? 

Moving on, or should I say, fourthly, how was Juliana that upset about a kiss she willingly allowed? That was annoyingly absurd and didn’t quite make sense if you ask me. I rolled my eyes multiple times in those scenes. Like…who does that! 

Fifthly and in line with that, what was all that deep kissing act in front of a little child moreso at such close proximity??? Africans, for the umpteenth time, we’re Africans for crying out loud! Why do we always want to copy and even overdo things that people you copy from won’t do 

 I’m yet to see one aspect of Nollywood that has been copied by other ‘woods’ or movie industry (if you like). Na we dey copy on a stead! 

 That kiss in front of that child was an ABSOLUTE NO NO for me! Yes! I SAID WHAT I SAID!

Furthermore, you all know that I’m always on the lookout for what a movie offers me as the biggest thing for me. This movie offered me next to nothing. Well, except maybe a wee bit of entertainment and the ending part which made me smile but that’s about it.

We appear to have normalised pre-marital sëx and sëx outside of marriage. Everyone’s doing it so it’s fine? What a world! Also, it seems a woman can never truly be happy without a man in her life as depicted in this movie as that appeared to be the predominant narrative pushed here.

To add to the foregoing, ten years and Juliana seemed so stuck on Akin! Wow!! What was she doing all that time? Hmmmm…probably waiting for Akin until became TWICE A FOOL! Did she really intend to go abroad or that was one of her ploy to get Akin to commit? 

Conclusively, the movie which title was aptly represented tried to portray the dynamics of co-parenting from the angle of a baby-mama & a baby-daddy but didn’t quite pass the mark thereof as the plot lost its appeal and direction with a tiring, exhausting and repetitive dialogue, in my opinion.

Not a bad watch actually as many would find the story enjoyable, perhaps even relatable and interesting especially because of the casting and some other bits in the film. For me, it didn’t exactly hit the spot hence the rating above.