Japa!

I went into this movie blindly, not knowing what to expect of it, even though the title made me feel it’d be a lowbrow Nollywood production. However, Japa turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Japa is a Sci-Fi comedy about a young teacher, Mezu, (played by Jide Kene Achufusi) with plans to migrate from the country. The story kicks off a few days before his scheduled flight abroad. We see the plot get its foundation as he sets his affairs right: a late night with friends, a conversation with his landlady, and some tense scenes with a fellow teacher that give off “will they won’t they” vibes. While this initial section lacks engagement and some scenes linger unnecessarily, it sets the stage for Mezu’s final day in Nigeria, which becomes fraught with various mishaps. Everything drags on and he finally makes it on the plane, by this time the movie had gotten to its thirtieth minute, and seeing how there was over an hour left I was perplexed as to where the plot was going. Unexpectedly, a plot twist emerged—the introduction of a time loop.

Implementing time loops requires careful execution and attention to detail. Establishing clear rules for how the time loop operates is essential, ensuring consistency and continuity within each iteration. Japa effectively adheres to this principle, seamlessly integrating the time loops into the story. However, viewers still need to pay close attention to fully appreciate the intricacies of the plot.

Japa capitalizes on the prevalent desire among Nigerian youths to emigrate from the country. This aspiration becomes the primary reason to empathize with the main character, as we are not provided with much backstory about his personality. Despite this lack of character depth, viewers still find themselves invested in seeing his dreams of “Japa” come to fruition.

While there are several supporting characters driving the plot forward, not all of them carry equal importance. For instance, Mezu’s friend, Sola (Seun Ajayi), is notably absent in the initial part of the story, so when he’s involved as the supposed brain during the brainstorming sessions, it has no impact. Kamsi (Mezu’s coworker) has a compelling story, and her time loop ended up having more resonance. With hers, we can see the time loop as a way she gets resolution, and possibly atone for her mistakes, whilst also gaining clarity into the true circumstances that led her to commit them.

When Kamsi (Adesua Etomi-Wellington) is revealed to also be trapped in a time loop, Japa bears a striking resemblance to the American rom-com, Palm Springs, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. However, what sets Japa apart is its distinctly Nigerian perspective and exploration of the Nigerian experience. For instance, the characters seek help from places like churches and traditional places, infusing cultural elements into the story. The time loop is revealed to be brought into effect by spiritual forces, and even though I feel a vague reason would have been better, viewers who like thorough explanations may like it.

Despite its efforts to maintain focus, Japa still exhibits some flaws. The ending lacks the weight it could have had, leaving certain questions unanswered. However, the passing of the curse at the conclusion is well-executed, with Mofe Duncan delivering a convincing performance. Japa may fall short of delivering consistent comedic moments, some of which may even miss the mark, but this doesn’t significantly detract from the overall plot.

The movie also takes some liberties that end up with perplexing questions. How did they manage to gather the crowd? How did they identify all the people who owed Zino? Zino’s wife got the passport but what’s stopping Zino from just taking it back from her, especially as her children weren’t with her? While the scene of solidarity was pivotal, symbolizing liberation from Zino’s tyranny, its execution felt overly melodramatic and detracted from Zino’s supposed menacing persona.

Also, watching Mezu forgive Wasiu’s betrayal easily on the first day was off-putting. There’s no way someone about to leave the country loses their safety net and acts without consequence to the person who facilitated the loss.

The storyline of Japa holds promise, but unfortunately, the performances fall short. While not inherently bad, they leave a sense of inadequacy; likewise, the dialogue could have been stronger.

Jide Kene Achufusi’s lead performance isn’t compelling but just enough to follow through to the end. On the other hand, Adesua Etomi isn’t always consistent with her performances but the one she gives here is commendable. She also manages to carry the bulk of the chemistry between her and Jide. It was obvious that Layi Wasabi was here for comedic relief and at first, it wasn’t landing well, but he progressively got better. Mofe Duncan’s villainy is affected by the limited screen time he gets, with much of his character only being in references from others but his final scene is a highlight. Bolaji Ogunmola gets to shine as a woman scorned and cheated on, the confrontational scene she shares with Adesua stands as one of the best moments in the movie.

Japa tinkers with a premise that’s new to Nollywood productions, and even though it’s a long way from being perfect, it manages to bring a flair of ‘Nigerianness’ to the time loop genre.