House of Gold

First of all, I must commend Yvonne Nelson as a producer; she went from ‘Single and Married‘, a movie with absolutely no point to this, ‘House of Gold’ a movie about something tangible at least. Like the former, this movie is not going to change the world, the movie is not going to move mountains but it’s going to make for quite an entertaining evening and a fun watch.

The story behind ‘House of Gold’ is nothing spectacular, misplaced children of a millionaire reconvene at his mansion in his dying days as part of his last wish to unite his family. It’s simple and it’s easy but the movie is filled with many surprises. These surprises are not, might add, in the plot line but in the entire viewing experience.

The movie has an unconventional cast as it stars some of Ghana’s, some of Nigeria’s, and some music stars that have probably never acted before. But whilst Omawumi is a pleasant surprise, Ice Prince’s performance falls hard again and again. However, thankfully he only has a passing role such that his performance is negligible, and we thank God that acting is  not his day job.

However, the star of the moment is definitely Francis Odega as he delivers laugh after laugh after laugh with such amazing comic timing. His entrance, even though it was after big names like Omawumi, Majid and Yvonne, signifies the actual beginning of the movie. The movie starts when he appears and he carries it along. I want to call him a comic relief but the entire movie is a comedy.

The movie does thread the path of romance and emotions with Majid’s character and his love affair with… (well you’re going to have to watch and find out). The entire thing seemed reminiscent of Van and Jackie’s love affair in “Princess Tyra” in a manner that was insanely endearing. Majid Michel does this thing that only he can do, it appears, where he comes on the screen barely says that many lines and lights our hearts on fire.

The story behind “House of Gold” is a bit reminiscent of ‘Who Killed Pa Reuben’, without the killing, and ‘In the Cupboard‘ without the lack of direction. It takes this storyline that we are becoming a little too familiar with and injects it with humor, inserts an array of fine actors, decorates them with pretty clothes and puts them in a gorgeous house then it presents you, the viewer, with a light-hearted easy to watch comedy.

The performances in this movie were mostly fair. Yvonne Nelson is in her comfort zone as a pretty girl with pretty girl problems, Majid doesn’t know how to do anything else but deliver, Omawumi is full of surprises, Luckie Lawson is well suited to her role – I can not see anyone else doing it, Bismark is always a delight to see on screen, and who can ignore the last minute appearance of the director, Pascal Amanfo, as a disabled son of the late millionaire. However, even though the movie has its plus side there are a couple disappointing acts. For one if we are going to get someone who is supposed to be gay, yet funny, and fit into that whole stereotypical homosexual exuberant type, then just hire Denrele, don’t get a Denrele knock-off. The little girl really wasn’t doing it for me on any level. She could have been funny… but… not really. And aside from those most other actors try but miss occasionially.

As regards the entire production, call me cheesy but I adore the use of music in this movie. There are random Bernie-Anti-signature sounds in this movie for dramatic moments, romantic moments and the likes, the introduction of Ice Prince’s character with his own music, the (this has nothing to do with the music) maid singing Omawumi’s “Serious Love Nwantinti”. The asides in the movie take some getting used to because at some point I’m not certain if it is an aside, if everyone else can hear the character, is she only talking to me, or is she talking to everyone else?

House of Gold is ‘nothing spectacular’, but it is ‘nothing spectacular’ dressed in pretty clothes and filled with many comic moments