Potato Potahto

THE Shirley Frimpong-Manso of the much loved “Adams Apples Series” comes back to get our hearts again with Potato Potahto – a cute romantic comedy about a couple who get divorced but both refuse to leave the house for the other. The two – played by O.C Ukeje and Joselyn Dumas – are childish and petty and probably also harboring unresolved feelings but that’s neither a surprise to anyone nor the reason we are here. We are here to see how it all plays out. We are here for the comedy, the colors and the cinematography and that’s where we win.

As usual with many Shirley Frimpong-Manso films there’s a silence and drag that haunts you through the movie, but in comparison to all her previous works this is not the worst. So even though it is slow at many moments, it never becomes unbearable. Before the harping on the division of the house becomes tiring, the story moves forward; and before the unspoken feelings between the two becomes dragged out, that moves forward as well. However, neither moves forward before the audience gets a chance to feel the drag and dull start to rise.

Thankfully, the dull here was buttressed with beautifully suited music. Aside from the the stunning cinematography and set design, the next best thing about this movie is the soundtrack. One of the most memorable things about the Adams Apples Series was the music. Here also, Frimpong-Manso manages to expose the audience to music that sounds like it was made specifically for the scene – even though it wasn’t, while exposing us all to new Ghanaian sounds.

Just like in “Love or Something Like That“,  the chemistry between O.C Ukeje and Joselyn Dumas is one for the books. Individually they display their prowess as actors in this film as they carry you through their emotions and frustrations, and together they spark a flame that is impossible to ignore. By the time the inevitable end comes by, you are blushing from cheek to cheek not just because you’ve been expecting it but because the actors have unconsciously convinced you to root for them both.

All in all, there’s nothing life changing going on here – just a good time with a feel good movie starring some beautiful people, wearing some beautiful clothes and doing some really silly things. Speaking of silly things, if you need just one reason to watch this movie then watch it for Chris Attoh and his most “out-of-comfort-zone” performance we’ve seen thus far.

Potato Potahto from sparrowstation on Vimeo.