The Bloom Boys

The storyline of “The Bloom Boys” centers on Kemi Akintola (portrayed by Fehinde Olukotun), a member of an esteemed family, who faces intense pressure to marry a billionaire’s son, Dozie Okafor (played by Bolanle Ninalowo) from her mother, Mrs. Akintola (played by Shaffy Bello), whose goal is to have her only daughter marry into wealth. This relentless pursuit of her mother’s wishes leads to unforeseen events that irreversibly change her life. Kemi succumbs to her mother’s relentless manipulation and conditioning, forsaking familial loyalty, self-respect, and self-preservation in pursuit of a misguided concept of love. As expected, the outcome is far from favorable.

A notable flaw of the film lies in its title, “The Bloom Boys.” Based on the film poster featuring a diverse cast of seasoned male actors, with the likes of Timini Egbuson, Ninalowo Bolanle, Tobi Bakare and Mc Lively. One might anticipate a storyline exploring romance, love triangles, and delivering a thrilling rollercoaster ride for the audience. However, the actual content of the film is starkly different from these expectations.

The title doesn’t quite match the supposed depth and theme of the story, suggesting room for improvement in Nollywood’s naming conventions. However, beneath the title and immense narrative shortcomings, lies a story rich in moral lessons, similar to several Nigerian films, like “Derailed” directed by Ramsey Noah, “Married But Living Single” directed by Tunde Olaoye, “Blood Sisters” by EbonyLife Studio and many more films, which offer insights into the realities faced by many Nigerian women dealing with domestic abuse and forced marriages to wealthy but abusive partners, The Bloom Boys also highlights the complexities and dangers of such relationships.

The film succumbs to the pattern of rehashing a well-worn storyline, failing to inject any new or significant elements into the narrative. Despite the story being relatable, the narrative of the movie feels overused, predictable and lacking in originality. It’s a plot that audiences may have encountered numerous times before, often characterized by clichés, tropes, or familiar story arcs. The film storyline fail to offer fresh perspectives and surprises, resulting in a sense of boredom and disinterest among viewers.

The movie attempts to tackle significant social issues but falls short in providing entertainment value. The initial scenes fail to evoke the intended emotional impact, and the plausibility of certain events, like Kemi’s interrogation, raises questions. For instance, it’s implausible that a detective would allow Kemi’s brother to visit her to convince her to talk, given the high-profile nature of the case. Additionally, Kemi narrating her story to her brother highlights narrative shortcomings, as he was a crucial part of her story but unaware of her crime. Ultimately, the film’s execution does not justify its thematic ambitions.

The Bloom Boys attempt to piece together various elements and invests in a rich vast array of seasoned actors, couldn’t save the movie from failing to create a cohesive and engaging narrative, resulting in a lack of compelling moments.

Furthermore, the film contains numerous unnecessary scenes, such as the one preceding Ninalowo’s visit to Kemi’s family for dinner. The House Manager’s address to the staff, portrayed by Foluke Daramola, feels extraneous and fails to contribute significantly to the overall plot. Instead, if Daramola’s character had visited Kemi in prison and persuaded her to share her story, it would have been more purposeful and aligned with the story’s objectives. While the use of Cute Abiola as comic relief is appreciated, like other slapstick actors in the film, he doesn’t leave a lasting impression or contribute any memorable moments.

The portrayal of Kemi by the lead actress lacks conviction, resulting in a character that feels uninteresting and devoid of sympathy. Regrettably, she emerges as the weakest aspect of the movie. Such a pivotal role, upon which the film heavily relies, should have been executed with more skill and depth. This casting misstep significantly diminishes the overall viewing experience for the audience. Furthermore, Sani Michael, popularly known as Mc Lively, fails to authentically portray Derek Shonde, an app developer. The characterization misses the mark by a wide margin. Employing his character primarily for comic relief exposes a glaring lack of understanding of how real-life coders conduct themselves and interact.

The overall performances lack conviction, with the efforts of all actors falling short and failing to generate cohesion and synergy. The absence of character dynamics is glaringly apparent throughout the film. There’s a noticeable lack of connection between the lovers, Fehinde Olukotan and Bolanle Ninalowo, as their chemistry fails to ignite. The supposed business partnership between Timini Egbuson and Mc Lively lacks any meaningful dynamic or contrast. The only character dynamics that show some promise, albeit imperfectly, are between Shaffy Bello and Gbenga Titiloye.