A Trip to Jamaica is a 2016 Nigerian comedy-drama film directed by Robert Peters, starring Ayo Makun, Funke Akindele, Nse Ikpe Etim, and Dan Davies. The film follows the adventures of a newly engaged couple on a trip to visit relatives outside Nigeria, where they encounter culture shock and uncover secrets that threaten their relationship.
Plot Overview
The movie begins with Akpos proposing to Bola via live telecast during the annual One Lagos Fiesta. Following Bola's acceptance, the couple decides to embark on a pre-wedding honeymoon overseas. They are welcomed in the United States by Bola's sister, Abigail, and her husband, Michael Rice, who live in a lavish mansion. The couple is later invited to Jamaica on Michael's private jet.
While in Jamaica, Akpos and Bola experience culture shock as they interact with the locals. Akpos, attempting to immerse himself in the culture, smokes Jamaican skunk and orders a drink called "Sex on The Beach," leading to comical situations. Later, Akpos, Abigail, and Michael are kidnapped, prompting Bola and others to call the police, resulting in the arrest of the kidnappers.
However, there are some inconsistencies. Why are they dressed in Bob Marley t-shirts before they land in Jamaica? When does the hair style on the supporting actress change multiple times back and forth? Why does the lead character speak in Yoruba to every Jamaican he meets? The screenplay is ridiculous - why are Jamaicans on the phone to random Nigerians at the behest of a stranger?
In this review Wilfred Okiche says its a "Tinsel reunion" but will be easily forgotten in 3 months.
Read also: Budgeting for Africa Travel
Jamaica Tourist Board releases behind-the-scenes footage of No Time To Die
Critical Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Okon Ekpo of YNaija criticized the film's acting, story, and directing, noting that the director had not improved since 30 Days in Atlanta. He described the screenplay as "shoddy" and "unsure of itself" and found Funke Akindele's performance to be hindered by the poor script.
Chidumga Izuzu of Pulse Nigeria described the film as a "mediocre comedy film" with limited laughs and unconnected jokes, also opining that the inclusion of Patoranking and Cynthia Morgan added no value to the film. On the plot, he described the film as proving that "a funny idea does not always make a funny movie".
Isedehi Aigbogun of Film Scriptic offered a more positive review, calling it "a thoroughly enjoyable and humorous movie." She praised Dan Davies' portrayal of Michael as an evil character who maintains his composure, as well as Nse Ikpe-Etim's performance as Abigail.
Themes and Sub-plots
Aside from an attempt at a full-length comedy, it also features sub-themes of sexism, culture clash between the Nigerian culture and the Jamaican culture, there is also the issue of crime, and abuse; the problem is that all these sub-themes are thrown around by the writer and when the average film viewer leaves the cinema, they may have no idea of all these sub-themes. The writer could have achieved this with more depth focused on these sub-themes, instead. the writer focuses too much on the need to make us laugh with jokes that fail to make us even smile. It tries comedy and it fails to achieve comedy.
The movie makes it clear that Abigail is unhappy because of her husband’s illegal dealings, however, we do not see how it directly affects her in any way. What makes her different from majority of Nigerian women who wouldn’t mind this money influx? Her moral standards aren’t explored in detail in this movie, and it would be nice to see that she is a church girl who prays for an unchanging husband, or that she gets direct threats from the drug lords. Michael’s threats don’t seem enough.
Read also: Essential Morocco Travel Guide
The filmmaker indulges in the idea of cheating to find happiness. Although, not a healthy idea to push forward, it pays off in the end for Akpos and Bola. Bola clarifies that she’s a better person when she’s with the new guy, and we briefly see Akpos being a better person as well with his new girl, but this isn’t thorough enough, as both relationships are just new.
Everyone keeps talking about some shipment gone wrong, and making threats everywhere. Also, the initial exploration of the casino game and the whole existing-boss digest, only is successful in making the audience imagine Michael has got something to do with them. Everything else is just pure vague! We need to be shown what this business truly entails.
Box Office and Awards
Prior to the film's release, Ayo Makun expressed optimism that the economic recession in Nigeria would not affect its box office success. In November 2016, the film grossed 168 million naira, surpassing the record set by 30 Days in Atlanta. It won the Africa Entertainment Legends Award (AELA) for Best Cinema Film of 2016 and received four nominations at the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Analysis of Comedy and Characters
On A Trip to Jamaica, AY employs the help of Funke Akindele to bring us comedy that will ‘blow our minds away’; at least that was what they tried to make us believe before we saw the movie. Funke has had a successful outing with Jenifa’s diary. She has her fan base, AY has his. The combination of both should give them a mega-hit but it fails to. There is very little to laugh about, two of the best comedians are put together in a film that is supposed to make us laugh but they try and they fail. They don’t carry their roles as Akpos and Bola with the delight that comedy brings. There is no excitement. A trip to Jamaica is not a film you will leave the cinema and chat about, it lets us down. It is overwhelming in a shallow way, the jokes don’t work.
Akpos appeared a bit too aware of the real world, and could be caught looking into the camera a few times. This disconnects the audience from the movie world, as we see AY as we know him-a Nigerian comedian, and certainly not a trained or born actor. His act also seems not thoroughly rehearsed and come off a bit rusty; the same can be said about Bola’s character.
Read also: OAT Morocco Adventure
Technical Aspects
The movie was very easy to follow. The locations that were used in the movie were on point. Subtitles were on point. The consistency and the transition was smooth. The pictures were not out of frame and generally good.
The sound quality was good for the context of the movie. There were no noticeable external sound interferences.
Overall Impression
In the end, I genuinely enjoyed the movie. There surely is something this filmmaker is doing well in his movies, but it certainly is not in the area of storytelling (or movie writing).
