Ada Omo Daddy

In her inaugural foray into blockbuster productions, Mercy Aigbe grapples with a narrative that, despite its initial promise of profound importance, falls short of delivering the anticipated depth and impact. The film, while showcasing Aigbe’s ambition, is hindered by a storyline that struggles to resonate with the audience on the expected scale, leaving room for improvement in future cinematic endeavours for this talented actress.

The story follows a wealthy family as unravelling secrets threaten to shatter their familial unit. Ireti Balogun’s (Sola Sobowale) meticulously crafted world unravels when her daughter’s introduction day collides with a startling call from Ifeanyi (Charles Okafor), Perosola’s biological father. Ireti struggles to conceal her secrets which eventually come to light. This unexpected revelation shatters Perosola’s (Omowunmi Dada) sense of identity as she grapples with the revelation that the man who raised her isn’t her biological father, this in turn leads to conflicting emotions of loyalty and curiosity. With Perosola’s wedding nearing, she’s faced with making a pivotal decision as Ifeanyi battles for a place in her life.

Ada Omo Daddy narrates a tale that has been recounted numerous times, lacking any significant addition to its narrative. The storyline implies that Ireti’s hidden secret possesses the potential to fracture her family bonds, and she endeavours to keep it concealed, utilizing her younger sister (Mercy Aigbe) as a means to prolong the deception. Although the plot suggests that Chief Balogun is oblivious to the fact that Perosola is a child from another father, the revelation later challenges our initial perception of him as a blind and unsuspecting partner. If he had truly been unaware, it could have added a layer of profound dramatic intensity, enhancing the film’s overall impact.

After Perosola becomes privy to the secret, her persistent complaining and lack of consideration for the man who has played a paternal role throughout her entire existence becomes rather disconcerting. While it’s understandable that she’s grappling with conflicting emotions, her demeanour towards Chief Balogun fails to evoke empathy for her character.

Exceeding a runtime of two hours, Ada Omo Daddy inadvertently overstays its welcome, a detriment compounded by the film’s arduous pacing. The viewer’s endurance is further tested as shadows from the crew members occasionally make unwelcome appearances on the screen during select scenes, detracting from the overall cinematic experience. The extended duration not only exacerbates the pacing issues but also highlights missed opportunities for concise storytelling, potentially impacting the audience’s engagement and satisfaction with the film.

The acting here is perfunctory and mostly unmemorable save for Sola Sobowale’s portrayal as Ireti. Sola is known for expressive and explosive characters and once again she captivates the audience. Despite facing some constraints imposed by the script, her brilliance manages to elevate her performance above that of the rest of the cast. Despite the wealth of seasoned actors gracing this movie, featuring talents such as Dele Odule, Charles Okafor, Carol King, and Chiwetalu Agu, it’s disheartening to observe how the script hampers the impact of their performances.

Ada Omo Daddy treads a familiar narrative path without significant additions, hinting at potential family fractures due to hidden secrets. While Ada Omo Daddy showcases Aigbe’s ambition and Sobowale’s standout performance, it leaves the audience with a sense of unfulfilled potential. Her future endeavours should delve deeper into the complexities of human relationships and unveil uncharted aspects of Aigbe’s creative vision.