Been a while! So I will be doing a movie review.
30 Days in Atlanta is a 2014 Nigerian romantic comedy film written by Patrick "Koinage" Nnamani, produced by Ayo Makun and directed by Robert Peters. The movie was shot in two locations in Lagos and Atlanta, United States of America.
I must first of all say that I am not so much a ‘movie person’ and the last time I was at the cinemas has to be like in 2012 or so. So this might just mean that I may not really know what to look out for in a movie.
The hype that followed the release of the movie, 30 Days in Atlanta, can get a non-movie lover to go and see the film. Even before the release, it was put in for awards and it indeed won four awards at the just concluded Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA) in Houston, Texas, USA.
The film was well received by the general audience, but was met with mixed to negative critical reviews.
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Let's delve into what makes this movie a noteworthy mention in Nollywood.
Plot Overview
The story centers around a ‘proper wafi boy’ - Akpos (played by Ayo Makun) who wins a 30-day holiday for two to Atlanta and decides to go with his cousin - Richard (played by Ramsey Nouah). Richard and Akpos (Ramsey Nouah & AY) won a raffle that awarded them a 30-day trip to the US. They were chummy cousins who were like night and day.
Akpos goes to Atlanta to show them there, how a warri boy is always a warri boy. Richard is the street-wise, kinda tush warri boy who is sweet, suave and fresh; but also rough when the need arises. They both fall in love while on holiday and break their partners’ hearts.
Akpos wins a month-long trip to Atlanta, Georgia and invites his cousin Richard to come along. Upon arrival, they run into their old friend Okiemute, who takes them out to dinner. Akpos meets the beautiful Kimberly and wishes to ask her out, but Okiemute warns him that Kimberly's father is very controlling. Kimberly, Akpos, and Richard run into each other again at an environmental conference, where Akpos makes a few awkwardly funny remarks. Kimberly, however, is more interested in Richard.
Richard returns to the restaurant to wait for Kimberly's visit, but Akpos shows up unannounced. Kimberly tells Akpos her father enjoyed his comments at the conference and wants to offer him a stand-up comedy contract. On the way home by taxi, Richard realizes he left his wallet behind. When the driver finds out they cannot pay the fare, he kicks them out of the cab. Kimberly and Odiye give them a ride back to Odiye's home, where they meet the family, as well as Odiye's immigration lawyer, Clara.
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On a Skype call with his parents, Richard learns that his former girlfriend Ese is making wedding arrangements. He tries to convince his mother that they have ended their relationship and mentions Kimberly. Richard introduces Kimberly to his parents, but his mother insists he should marry Ese. Ese tries to convince Kimberly that Richard will only disappoint her. Ese shows Kimberly intimate pictures of her with Richard. Akpos becomes involved with illegal street gambling and is arrested. Clara visits him in jail and agrees to represent him. It is discovered that Akpos has violated his visa, making his case more severe and punishable by law.
In court, the judge agrees that the total income Akpos has earned will be sufficient as compensation for his legal and visa violation if the money is donated to charity under supervision. In order to avert further violations, Clara takes him to her house, where the two have dinner, followed by sex. Later, Clara overhears Akpos on the phone, implying that his relationship with her will facilitate his green card and American citizenship. Richard attempts to mend his relationship with Kimberly, but Odiye orders him to leave his daughter alone, reiterating the bad image many young Nigerian men portray to the Western world. Akpos reluctantly donates his earnings to charity.
Their worst ordeal came when Richard forgot his wallet at home and had no cash to pay the taxi driver. The next thing we know, they were stripped to their underwear, robbed, and left helpless on the street. Richard met Kimberly (Karlie Redd) who was a young, attractive, restaurant owner. Meanwhile, Akpos wound up on the other side of the law when he was busted for hustling.
The story is basically an adventure sweetened with romance.
To get to the point, the movie was buffoonish and lacked a solid storyline.
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But having said that, the romance between Richard and Kimberly didn’t need to escalate to the emotional levels that it did when she received word that he was married. Although there were some nice moments between Akpos and his attorney (Lynn Whitfield), the real joke was that the writers expected the audience to believe them as a couple?? She was a successful lawyer and she fell for an unaccomplished comedian with a language barrier??
As for the pacing of the movie, it was decent and the movie wasn’t boring by any means.
This is another movie about Africans that traveled to another country and had difficulty adapting to another culture. The issue is that this movie is a poor remake.
The movie moved on to their preparations for the trip. At first they’re not allowed to go in because it’s an event for couples but they’re bailed by the timely intervention of Richard’s boss played by Juliet Ibrahim.
To cut long stories short, AY was picked to travel to Atlanta for 30 days and he picked his friend, Richard to go along with him.
The movie is about Akpors played by AY who comes to Lagos from Warri and comes over to a party at his friend’s office.
Cast and Performances
The movie was packed with a celebrity cast and it was great to see Ramsey Nouah in a comedy. It’s obvious that AY played himself but the most notable performance was that of Lynn Whitfield.
Starring: Ramsey Nouah, AY, Lynn Whitfield, Vivica A.
Key cast members include:
- Ayo "AY" Makun as Akpos
- Ramsey Nouah as Richard
- Lynn Whitfield as Clara
- Vivica A. Fox as herself
- Richard Mofe Damijo
- Desmond Elliot
- Karlie Redd as Kimberly
I must commend AY’s Warri tone as well as Ramsey Noauh’s. Oh Jeez! I saw another side of Ramsey Nouah that I haven’t seen before…. His pidgin was WOW!!
Vivica A. Fox (Lydia) was quoted as saying she would love to work with AY again and that he has a bright future. That says a lot about us.
I am convinced that AY had things to do in Atlanta and then thought of shooting this film on the side. I do no think RMD and Desmond Elliot would leave Nigeria for Atlanta for cameo parts in a two-hour film.
Technical Aspects
The use of music (soundtracks and all) was absolutely fantastic. None of those annoying soundtracks they use in Nollywood movies. There’s a particular song that was used when they were at the airport about to travel. I heard that song for the first time (it sounded like Gordons’ voice). It was so appropriate for the part.
The movie was not over dragged. Short enough not to bore you, long enough to drive home the point.
As they leave for their flight to Nigeria, it was Richard and Omotogbe (Lynn Whitfield) that carry the luggage. Even split. It is the only scene that foreshadows “bright future” where everything seeks balance. But I fear neither cast nor crew see anything symbolic here. I am not surprised. Not when our own Kunle Afolayan could end a wonderful film (Figurine) with a silly question.
I like how the Skype conversation was set up (and I really wish Skype calls here were that clear) but let’s pretend we didn’t notice that. The music was awesome also. The inclusion of 2Face’s ‘True Love’ did it for me really.
Cinematography by James M.
Critical Reception
Nollywood Reinvented gave a 24% rating, commenting: "For the length of the approximately 2hr long movie, there was a competent joke in every part for at least the first hour and a half. But that's about where the greatness of the movie begins and ends. There is hardly any originality or attempt to make it less predictable".
The Daily Independent commented that the comedy in the film is filled with clichés and stereotypes, but a proper story eventually emerged. It concluded that "he [Ayo Makun] has sent a strong message with this effort that a good quality comedy film can be made".
Wilfred Okiche of YNaija cited that the film has "filmmaking errors and production glitches", bt admits to the film being funny. He says Ayo Makun isn't "a rounded actor", calls the film a hybrid of Osuofia in London (2003) and The Return of Jenifa (2011), and concludes: "...there is no single, continuous plot but a series of sketches and happenstances cobbled together to make up a movie. The pacing moves breezingly [sic] enough to obscure the lack of a substantial story but, it does little to hide the deficiency with continuity as the scenes just clash noisily into theeachher.
Today's Woman magazine gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, commenting: "The beginning scenes were cliche, predictable and reminded me a little too much of Osuofia in London. However, once we passed this phase, the movie was in, actual fact, hilarious.
Babatunde Lasaki on 360Nobs gave 6 out of 10 stars and comments: "A usual story retold in an unusually funny manner. Definitely not a contender for innovation or ingenuity, but I will say a comic relief from the many bland productions of 2014. 30 Days in Atlanta is a fine movie, not a MUST see, but definitely worth two hours of comedic fun.
Obehi Bassey of True Nollywood Stories states that Ayo Makun's acting skills is non-existent, says the film is needlessly dragged, but concludes: "30 days in Atlanta remains a movie worth seeing. Entertaining from the get go, it doesn't let go. It's a comedy that is funny without being annoying and melodramatic. Plus it has some really memorable scenes.
Kemi Filani comments: "if you are having a bad day and you need something to get you up and alive, 30 Days in Atlanta is the movie for ya....
Some argue that it was AY, of all the thousands of Nigeria’s ambassadors to the world, that decided to project the boring and often exaggerated “Nigerians bad” image, using a huge platform. Every one of these issues is neither originally nor exclusively Nigerian.
The only social function this film would have performed was draw attention to the environmental pollution that has become part of Nigerians’ lives. But AY’s film plays it down. It is heart-breaking.
Even Richard is a failed foil to Akpors. Instead of a character that is totally un-Akpors so that Nigeria can be seen in its two-side-to-every-coin truism, Richard is actually another Akpors. Only that he can read and write, and has obviously been all over the world.
What makes one seat through minutes after minutes of this comedy that leaves a bad after-taste is, well, the comedy.
A run-of-the-mill Nigerian comedy would rely solely on Akpos’ talents and wisecracks (“Oya, toast, toast…”). And for them to insult viewers’ sensibilities with a stomach-churning reference to Pidgin English as Creole! Ah!
While AY ranks among the best in Nigerian show biz circle, someone is looking forward to a bright future for him! She would have to tell us what she means- if the quote is correct.
Box Office Success
AY's '30 Days In Atlanta ' Bags Highest Grossing Nigeria Movie Of All Time.
The film started in a crowded room where Majid Michael, an MC of an event, announced that Akpos (Ayo Makun, AY), the star of the movie had just won a trip to the United States. He was to bring along someone and he decided to go with his childhood friend and flatmate (Richard) played by Ramsey Nouah. They were to spend 30 days all-expense paid vacation in the United States.
I must say that I laughed my hearts out!! Like I actually laughed tears!!!! Infact ehn… I want to start laughing again as I type this and I am so angry that I got to the cinemas late so I missed a couple of minutes which I can imagine would have given me more laughs.
Definitely not a contender for innovation or ingenuity, but I will say a comic relief from the many bland productions of 2014.
Also, Mercy Johnson’s interpretation of the role was really great. In conclusion, this was one of the most hilarious movies I’ve seen. I see it having a second part or something, maybe 30 Days in Essex or 30 Days in Leicester. I’ll rate it 6.4 on a scale of 1 -10.
Before you guys start thinking I was paid.. Lol! Okay so there’s this part where Ramsey Nouah is telling Karlie Redd that he’ll be going back to Nigeria in four days. And then from then up till when they finally left for Nigeria, the activity was just too much to be just four days (In My Opinion). I think it should have been like a week or more.
