Selina

Selina is the story of a village food stall owner, Bimbo Ademoye, who struggles to pay off her debts and put her younger brother through school. One day, one of her debtors suggests a job as a live-in cook slash cleaner for her “nephew” Reuben (Daniel Etim-Effiong). After much deliberation on Selina’s part (her option was either poverty, this job or become an ashawo really) she chose the obvious and signed up for the gig. Reuben, a well-to-do and kind young man (as these folks usually are) lives in a nice house with his girlfriend/fiance (even Reuben sef is confused many times about their relationship), who is apparently mostly with him for the “security” he offers her. As you have already guessed, this movie involves some romantic shuffling that ultimately leads to a happily ever after.

You might start to wonder, “have we not seen this movie before?”. In fact, the last time we saw this exact storyline it was starring Bimbo again alongside Seun Akindele and it was called “The Backup Wife“. However, while both stories are quite similar this one is a bit different. This is not as comedic or as fleshed out as the latter was. In fact, Selina reads like a typical nollywood for YouTube movie: we know the desired outcome, we include some actors that the audience cannot resist, add in a scenario where everyone roots for the protagonist and voila, it’s a winning combination. And at some point during the filming someone realizes we are running out of time and they hurry things up till you get to an end that neither the viewer nor the characters themselves quite believe.

Sarcasm aside, on a random Wednesday evening this is not a bad watch. However, it is not the one you tout to friends when you try to convince them that nollywood is an industry to watch out for. Selina is something light and it felt like even the actors knew this while shooting. We all love Daniel, but brother Folarin looked like he was clearly here for a paycheck. Minimal was the name of the game for everyone asides from Bimbo. As the main character, she was required to bring a bit more. A little more extra-ness, a little more comedy and a little more gra-gra and she delivered. The comedic timing does not always land but the 50% that hit made this Wednesday evening watch that much more entertaining.

The minimal effort transcends into the production as everyone from the music guy using forced dramedic music for every seemingly funny moment to the editor/music producer who was adding an Igbo soundtrack to a movie with Yoruba characters and no Igbo reference whatsoever – everyone here was here for a paycheck.