Movie Review: Isoken | By: Jerry Chiemeke

Movie Title: ISOKEN
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Year of Release: 2017
Cast: Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, Tina Mba, Funke Akindele, Lydia Forson, Patrick Doyle, Marc Rhys, Damilola Adegbite
Director: Jadesola Osiberu
“Isoken” is about a independent, 35-year-old lady (played by Dakore) who is being pressurised by her mother (played by Tina Mba) to get married. She has three friends; Agnes (Funke), Kukua (Lydia) and Joke (Damilola), the latter going through a marriage bedeviled by miscarriages. She gets acquainted with a man named Osaze (Benjamin), and later on, an Englishman named Kevin (Rhys), who works at her office on a contract basis, and keeps bumping into her in awkward situations, from panties forgotten in washing machines to faces smeared with flour. Osaze seems like the perfect guy, but Kevin with his dry British humour, Afrophilia and love for the arts begins to get through to Isoken, and things get complicated.
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For one, the script and the plot are non-cliche, the plot is well acted out, and the dialogue is pretty top notch. There are no excessively long scenes, Dakore shows us what we have missed for so long, Marc Rhys makes British humour really appealing, Joseph Benjamin sticks to his lines, Funke does not try too hard to be funny, and Tina Mba plays the classic Benin mother to perfection, drama and all, down to the accent. All in all, it makes for a great movie.

There are, however, a few observations. Isoken’s character is artsy and feminist in nature. That appears to be a major theme in the movie, and that is fine, but in about four scenes, the cameras seemed to focus a little too much on Isoken’s pile of books. We get it. she is an independent woman, can we move to other parts of the room? Again, the plot seemed a bit too “obvious” in trying to paint Kevin (Rhys) as a better fit for Isoken. The point is clear to see, but Osaze’s character could have used a little more flesh and personality, the shallowness seemed a tad too deliberate.
At the end of the movie, Kevin feels defeated and intends to leave Nigeria, seeing that his contract is up, but Isoken professes her love, and he agrees to stay. That is as improbable an ending as we can get! Yea yea, Love makes us do things, but ditch England for Nigeria? Oh well. I don’t know. There is also the wedding choreography at the end, similar to that overly hyped you-know-which-movie, but ultimately, the movie is watchable.
Rating: 6.5/10


Jerry Chiemeke is a lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Lagos. An amateur photographer and sports enthusiast as well, Jerry’s works have appeared on Blanck Digital, Elsieisy, Oshodi.tv, The Kalahari Review and Brittle Paper. He is the author of ‘The Colours In These Leaves’. Get the book Here 

You can follow him on Twitter @J_Chiemeke, and also check out his craft on his blog at pensofchi.com

Celebrity couple, Damilola Adegbite and Chris Attoh welcome baby boy

Awww! Celebrity couple, Damilola Adegbite and Chris Attoh are now parents. They welcomed their baby boy yesterday, September 5, 2014. (Not sure though, the announcement was made yesterday).
The elated dad posted on his instagram page
“Someone should have told us this is how amazing it feels, Unto us a child is born,I get it now, it’s the greatest feeling ever. Help me thank God for the new member in the family. Welcome our Child, in whom we are well pleased. emoji #akingisborn #greatnessishere #miraclesstillhappen

Third couple to hook up on Tinsel! Gbenro Ajibade and Osas Ighodaro are engaged

Wow! Tinsel is (un) officially the perfect hub to pick a life partner. All you have to do is to get a role in the series and be cast alongside a beautiful lady/guy. Play your parts well and then the “spotting” and dating will come later.lol
Actor Gbenro Ajibade who played Soji in the MNET series has proposed to Osas Ighodaro, popularly known as ‘Adanna’ in the series. This is the third couple to meet on the set of Tinsel. The first was Iyke Okechukwu&Florence Uwaleke, second; Chris Attoh & Damilola Adegbite.
He announced the engagement on his instagram page.
Below is his proposal message.
“Four words fourteen letters that take forever to say,with you these words are too important to let them have their way. You’ve had my back for endless days,knowing my habitual ways,seen my worst and STILL stood by me even when my best of friends deserted me and strings weren’t attached between us you were there staying strong inspiring,motivating n loyal to our friendship regardless of all my madness.I can say am forever grateful and I LOVE YOU in so many ways but none is clearer than committing my days..@officialosas grow old with me,for the best is yet to be…..#shesaidYES#AGE#GREATNESS#??!

"I'm truly blessed." Chris Attoh throws the sweetest shout-out to fiancee, Damilola Adegbite

When a man is in Love! This is the first “unofficial” statement from Chris Attoh after news of his relationship with fast-rising beautiful actress, Damilola Adegbite filtered into the air. Kwame Mensah of the Tinsel series few hours ago posted this short but sweet message to his wife-to-be on his official Instagram page.

“Imagine waking up to a face like this everyday for the rest of your life, with a great personality to go with it. I’m truely blessed cus I wont have to imagine. Counting my blessing each day. Thank you all for all the congratulatory messages and the immense love you guys have sent our way.”

Meanwhile the celebrity couple’s wedding is holding next month- April 12!

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