Head Over Bills

Head Over Bills portrays the journey of Mrs. Ofili, a formidable business mogul and CEO of Starlight Company, played by Shaffy Bello, alongside her three daughters: Oluchi (portrayed by Rachael Okonkwo), Chetachi (portrayed by Bimbo Ademoye), and Muna (portrayed by Ego Nwosu). As a single mother, Mrs. Ofili grapples with the decision to pass on the reins to one of her daughters, particularly her eldest, Oluchi and Chetachi, though she favors her youngest, Muna. However, Muna’s reluctance to be in the spotlight complicates matters, as she prefers working behind the scenes.

The film struggles to intertwine the three daughters’ storylines into a cohesive narrative, resulting in a lack of thematic and narrative coherence. It delves into the lives of Cheta, who indulges in extravagant parties and luxury items, Oluchi, who pursues casual relationships without commitment, and Muna, who appears morally upright but is in a secret relationship with the longstanding competitor of her mother’s company while serving as its brand manager. The remainder of the movie revolves around their attempts to transform their lives and earn their mother’s pride. The film directed by Dabby Chimere is a one-dimensional story; it is a narrative that lacks depth, complexity, and most importantly, layers.

Head Over Bills initially sparks interest with its promising premise and a talented cast, however, the film disappoints with its underwhelming narrative and questionable casting choices for pivotal characters. Important aspects of the plot are left unexplored, and crucial character development happens off-screen, resulting in a disconnect with the plot and disrupting the flow of the narrative. The portrayal of Rachael’s relationship with her scammer boyfriend in the movie is poorly executed, diminishing its significance as more time is devoted to it. This issue could have been mitigated with more inventive storytelling techniques.

The movie focuses too much on unimportant details instead of telling a compelling story, visually. It relies heavily on dialogue, making it tiring to watch with unnecessary scenes that ruin any suspense or excitement. The lead characters, without the inclusion of Shaffy Bello, lack depth and fail to connect with the audience. The side characters are boring and don’t add anything to the story, while the romantic subplots are dull. The writing and directing are to blame for the movie’s disappointment, especially in poorly written romantic relationship between Rachael Okonkwo and Prince Nelson Enwerem. Although, the character contrast between Bimbo Ademoye and Emeka Nwagbaraocha is commendable.

One of the flaws of the movie, narrative wise, is that the fate of Starlight Group and its competitor after Muna’s secret relationship leaked to the media, is not addressed. Additionally, the issues concerning the company’s shares is inexplicably resolved without proper explanation, visually. The filmmakers chose to “tell rather than Show“. The movie also feels aimless and fails to fully develop its characters or tie up loose ends satisfactorily. Too much time is wasted on trivial matters which overshadow the main storyline. 

On performances, the portrayal of Leo by former BBNaija housemate, Prince Nelson Enwerem, exposes the limitations of his acting abilities, contributing to one of the movie’s main flaws: the overall acting quality. Additionally, the chemistry and dynamic between Rachael Okonkwo and Prince Nelson felt lacking and uninspired, unlike the engaging chemistry displayed by Ego Nwosu and Uzor Arukwe.

Uzor Arukwe’s performance suffered from inconsistency in portraying a rich and handsome Hausa man. It wasn’t until the end of the movie when Uzor adopted the appropriate attire that his role became clear, with inconsistency in his dialogue delivery throughout. On the other hand, Bimbo Ademoye and the youngest sibling, Ego Nwosu, convincingly portrayed wealth, especially Bimbo, with her impeccable style, demeanor, and eloquence, making her scenes highly anticipated.

Rachel Okonkwo’s portrayal of Oluchi feels disconnected, and whether it’s due to her acting or a mismatch for the role remains uncertain. Despite her effort, her performance comes across as wooden, lacking the depth and authenticity brought by Ego Nwosu and Bimbo Ademoye to their characters. Ultimately, Head Over Bills overstays its welcome, leaving viewers feeling indifferent by the end.