Saturday Child

The first couple of scenes introduce us to yet another abused child living under the wings of an uncaring madam? mother? It at first seems unclear but eventually we realize that the woman she calls mother really isn’t her mother. Due to a series of unfortunate events, her father, the only loving factor in her life, looses his job in what appears to be – according to her ‘mother’ – all because of the girl. One thing leads to another and the maltreated child is on the streets. Partly chased away by the woman she called mother, and partly seeking peace away from her troubles.

Armed with an unoriginal storyline and a cast line up of <10 people (that can really boast of only 2 and a half actual actors), the question arises: what on earth is endearing about Saturday Child?

After so many Blackberry Babes, and iPhone babes, and Azonto Babes, and human hair babes (don’t know if that exists yet, but it will soon) – and the other obviously ‘babes’ movies that were wise enough not to add the words babes to the title, I’ve realized one thing: I’d gladly watch a redundant non-royalty-based made-in-Asaba production (featuring Mercy Johnson) anytime, anyday.

Because in as much as the storyline is overdone, and the script brings absolutely nothing new to the table, it’s still entertaining to watch.

And then there’s always the added incentive of Mercy Johnson! Don’t know about you but I swear you can sell anything to me by putting MJ on the cover. I’d buy it even if it actually is crap. Although I’d eventually realize that the movie has no point and then the question becomes, is Mercy Johnson alone enough to hold the movie? Quite shockingly, more often than not, she is! And this movie is a classic example. If you take Mercy Johnson away, I’d argue that this movie has nothing to float on. Not that it’s not entertaining, but without Mercy in it there’s nothing that would endear the average viewer to the movie (except maybe extreme boredom).

However, even without Mercy, another actor that can definitely hold his own is Solomon Akiyesi. Granted! No regular Nollywood viewer ever watched a movie for Solomon Akiyesi, but who is that person that wants to deny his capabilities as an actor?