All That Glitters

In most African nations they tend to be adages about every other thing, so I’m almost entirely certain that out there somewhere is an adage that goes something like one must first learn to crawl before he walks and to run before he walks. That adage (imaginary as it is in this situation, until someone confirms it) applies, oh so aptly, to Alexx Ekubo especially in this movie.

In the movie, All that Glitters, Alexx plays an unsatisfied husband who falls for the wiles and seductions of a coworker who appears more western and cultured than his wife at home. The movie is predictable and unoriginal but add onto that a lead actor who appears to be unready for lead roles, and you have created a recipe for a very dragged hour and thirty minutes of film time.

As earlier stated, the movie is not captivating. It’s not new, it’s not original, it’s not mind-blowing, but neither was “desperate housegirls” but yet that movie entertained me. On the other hand, this movie falls short in that regard despite being from the same production and having two of the same actors from the latter.

In fact it almost seems like bad acting is contagious, because Grace Johnon who plays Alexx Ekubo’s character’s wife was difficult to watch especially in the scenes between them both. Apart from the glaring lack of chemistry between both actors (Alexx and Grace), her performance in the scenes with him were just generally dismaying. However, I must say that she was able to redeem herself later in the movie – and do we call it a coincidence that in those scenes where she does better she is not with Alexx?

Apart from the bad acting from the leads in this movie and the annoying cheap church soundtrack, not much else angered about the movie itself but when it comes to the story I’m not certain which points aggravates me more. Is it the ingrate of a husband who leaves his wife after all that she has done for him, or the wife who sits around the house looking like his mother. Is it the mistress who has the audacity to repossess a married man, or the confused man who demands that his mistress should cook for him with his sexist statement “where [I come] from the woman cooks for the man” (dey there, when you starve you will find your way to the kitchen).

The movie brings up many good points and these points are facilitated by very few good actors. I must commend Uru for holding her own in this movie but I can’t deny that the star of the movie was definitely Perez Egbi. A little background on Mr. Egbi, he was originally a Nollywood USA actor who like Chet Anekwe has successfully made into the real Nollywood. Every scene he was in was a delight. He brought the laughs and had the presence that held this movie together for me.