Merry Men 3: Nemesis

Imagine this, you’re walking down a beachline in the rain and you see someone attempting to build a sandcastle in this rainstorm, each attempt washes away before it can take shape, leaving you in a soggy mess of confusion as to what that person’s aim is… now, that’s what happens with each instalment of Merry Men. Attempting to understand why they continue to produce new parts feels like an exercise in futility.

Merry Men 3: Nemesis starts with a duo of young actors, and with the performances they set, it was obvious that this instalment wouldn’t provide anything better than the previous two. Their short display of camaraderie is meant to give a backstory to the crux of this movie. Dafe (Chidi Mokeme) and Ayo (Ramsey Nouah) are best friends, and during a stint gone wrong, Ayo leaves Dafe for dead after Dafe suffers a gunshot wound. With Dafe’s return, he quickly disposes of Naz and Remi (formerly played by Jim Iyke and Falz). It’s very obvious that both actors weren’t on board for this instalment, but this movie does a great disservice to them seeing how they’re quickly done away with. The weight of the news of their death also doesn’t weigh down the remaining cast members either. From here, a cat and mouse chase begins between Ayo and Dafe as they strive to settle their vendetta.

Before talking about the many ruins of Merry Men 3, I’d like to give the little merits this instalment can get. Ireti Doyle has a presence that shines through any poorly written script. Her portrayal of Dame Maduka has always been good but there’s a special brilliance she brings this time as a cunning and malevolent villain. After Chidi Mokeme‘s turn in Shanty Town, he’s proven that he can deliver a villainous performance with ease and nuance, and he does that once again as Dafe. While some acting performances lack expressiveness in the eyes, his is distinct—he captivates with both his eyes and body, fully immersing himself in his portrayal.

The innovative camera angles in this Nigerian production are a refreshing touch. While the frequent use of a rotating 360-degree angle might be a bit strenuous on the eyes in certain scenes, it adds a captivating visual element that improves the viewing experience.

Onto Merry Men 3‘s plenty woes, the first five minutes feature a police chase. In this case, the criminals shoot at the police cars and no impact is shown, this is especially perplexing seeing the angles these shots are shown from, they’re so direct and should have made an impact. Police cars aren’t that bulletproofed to go unscathed.

Most Nigerian productions go for action scenes for the spectacle they proffer, and Merry Men 3 does the exact thing. In this case, this is an action movie, but not all the scenes with action sequences are warranted, and coupled with the poor editing, they lack the gravitas they need.

The reasoning for Dafe’s revenge also needed finessing. He holds Ayo responsible for leaving him for dead, but considering Dafe sustained a headshot, it’s evident Ayo couldn’t have safely dragged him along. However, it would have been more fitting for Ayo to make an effort to care for Dafe’s mother, especially given the portrayal of their close bond, where she was depicted as regarding him as a son.

The excessively elevated levels of suspension of disbelief in this film can be quite vexing. It strongly evokes the style of the Fast and Furious franchise but with an inferior production quality.

The plot of this movie is more focused on creating a visually impressive spectacle rather than providing substantial or meaningful content, and even when it tries to employ societal commentary, it falls flat with its execution. With this, the storyline ends up more about superficial elements and flashy distractions rather than a deep or thought-provoking narrative. There’s also a flaw in the movie in its handling of dialogue. They are prolonged and mostly off-putting, and with a screentime that extends over two hours, it ends up even more torturous.

With a plot that’s messy and incongruent, it leaves way too many questions. Why did Dafe repeatedly shoot Ayo (who was revealed to be wearing a bulletproof vest) only to later say he didn’t intend to kill him? Why did Dafe kill Naz and Remi who had no hand in what happened in the past? Why was Dame Maduka alternating from having information to not having information? Why was the Police Chief screaming that Ayo should be revived from his coma? Is it possible to be on two different calls at the same time with one device? The list of questions can go on and on.

Merry Men 3 concludes as a lacklustre imitation of the Fast and Furious series, lacking the gripping action scenes it desperately requires. Frankly speaking, this film seems unnecessary, and it’s high time the franchise bids farewell with this as its final installment.

Trailer