Small Talk

Small Talk narrates the tale of Baba Dee (played by Adebowale “Mr Macaroni” Adedayo), a driver ecstatic about his boss’s return from a lengthy overseas journey. Amid his joy, he engages in casual conversations with various individuals, spreading the news of his boss’s arrival. However, when the boss and his spouse fall victim to a robbery on the day of their arrival, a rigorous interrogation ensues.

The pace of comedy movies in Nigeria has noticeably slowed down in recent years, lacking the humor punch they once delivered. Often, they feature jokes that fall flat or lack polished delivery. This raises questions about what it would take to create a genuinely funny comedic movie and how older Nollywood films managed to succeed in this genre. Delving into the elements of successful older Nollywood comedies could provide valuable insights into revitalizing the humor in contemporary Nigerian cinema.

Small Talk attempts to excel as a comedic movie by employing a variety of skit-makers, yet it ultimately fails to fulfill its promise. While these skitmakers thrive in their natural online habitat, delivering comedy that audiences enjoy, here they fall short, unable to translate their online success to the big screen effectively.

While it may appear that the fault lies with the performances of the skit-makers, closer scrutiny reveals the opposite to be true. The real disappointment lies in the script and direction. Actors can only work with the material they’re provided with, and the jokes written here and most of the circumstances they’re featured in leave much room for improvement. An easy example is the choice of featuring many unnecessary fart jokes.

Other than being a comedy, Small Talk doubles as a mystery feature. We are taken on this trip to find out the real culprits of the robbery, however, while anticipation builds for this revelation, the stakes are not adequately established to provide suspense. Baba Dee’s boss (Played by Taye Arimoro) was nonchalant about the entire ordeal, it was at the behest of Baba Dee and his wife (Played by Moet Abebe) that he finally involved the police. His reluctance stems from his unwavering trust in his staff, a setup that is effectively established, and his desire to keep his return to the country discreet for undisclosed reasons. The warm rapport between the boss and the driver is refreshing, especially considering it’s not a common occurrence in today’s society.

With the police involved and the mystery well underway we’re taken from one interrogation to another. The entire saga runs too long with repeated interrogation processes that feel like they’ll end nowhere. The characters come in and out, bleeding into one another, and this process waters down the entire mystery aspect. The biggest letdown is how anticlimactic the culprits are revealed. By this time we’ve been taken on a rollercoaster, only for the reveal to be disappointingly routine.

The editing of the film requires attention to detail, particularly in addressing issues such as mismatched audio-visual moments.

It’s important to note that even with the chatter and drawn-out nature of the plot the main message isn’t lost. While well-intentioned, Baba Dee’s casual oversharing ultimately leads to harm. This theme is effectively reinforced by the false ending, which carries significant emotional weight, evoking pity for Baba Dee despite understanding the consequences of his actions. The false ending effectively drives home the message that unintended actions can still have repercussions. However, the suggestion of a more positive ending hints at a sense of relief for Baba Dee, albeit at the expense of the earlier sentiment.

It’s worth noting that while Small Talk includes a plethora of forgettable supporting characters, the principal characters stand out distinctly. Adebowale “Mr Macaroni” Adedayo’s portrayal of Baba Dee doesn’t stray far from his usual repertoire, but he infuses his character with a special care that shines through. Despite being carefree and talkative, Baba Dee’s inherent goodness makes him endearing, and Adedayo’s delivery, although containing some stereotypes, effectively sells the character.

Lasisi Elenu on the other hand has an imbalance in his character, and there’s a blurry line between it being in his character’s nature or his portrayal. His act (and also the comedic elements) peaks in a scene between him and Lizzy Jay, where the dialogue aptly encapsulates the sentiments audiences will have towards Lasisi. There’s a good comedic reveal with Officer Okoh momentarily dropping his American shtick (the first of many); the American accent employed by his character doesn’t add depth but at least for a comedic entry it gives color to his character.

At its core, Small Talk is an uncomplicated watch, but it overstays its welcome at times and lacks consistently clever comedic moments. A more balanced approach, incorporating wit and nuanced humor, would have been beneficial. Nevertheless, it manages to conclude as a watchable and occasionally enjoyable comedic offering.