What do you get when you take a couple of comedians with no respect for the art of storytelling and give them a blockbuster movie budget? The answer is Your Excellency, a 2-hour-long Instagram skit with loose ends and pointless plotlines.
The not-so-impressive brainchild of Ebony Life and Funke Akindele, Your Excellency opened in December, the prime time for movie-going; when people spend money in the name of compulsory family fun.
To unpack everything good and bad about this movie, let’s start with the plotline.
The plot
Funke Akindele’s directorial debut, Your Excellency tells the story of Chief Olalekan Ajadi, a bumbling, billionaire businessman and failed presidential candidate, who is obsessed with Donald Trump.
Just when his campaign looks to be another disaster, Ajadi wins by the Presidential primaries by the width of a hair and becomes a viable contender for the presidency.
He unwittingly foils all attempts (particularly from his double-crossing party mates) to bring him down with his kind nature, good humour, and surprisingly, through the power of social media.
As the political drama unfolds, it seems possible that even the clumsiest candidate, with little to offer voters except for viral soundbites, dance moves, and amusing antics, can mount a serious challenge for the presidency.
The cast
Akin Lewis plays the underdog Chief Ajadi and Funke Akindele plays his second wife. Shaffy Bello plays his estranged first wife who is based in London. Seyi Law plays the role of an advisor and a friend.
Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah and Deyemi Okanlawon play political opponents, and Toni Tones is the archetype of an influencer with a fake online persona.
The cast also includes Oreka Godis, Osas Ighodaro, Mike Iheuwa, Bimbo Manuel, Ini Dima-Okojie, Ikechukwu Onunaku, and Helen Paul.
The accolades
Anyone who watches Your Excellency and does not laugh is very likely a psychopath. The humour was a big part of the movie. In fact, one might argue that it is all the movie consists of.
Either way, it was relatable, funny, and a great bonding experience. And apart from the laughs, there were warm, emotional moments in the movie that would make you smile genuinely.
An example of such was whenever Akin Lewis and Funke Akindele appeared on screen. These two had impeccable chemistry as Chief and Mrs Ajadi. It was very easy to believe that they were in love.
Another thing this movie has going for it is the costume design. The outfits in this movie were all on point and pushed the story forward by giving an insight into the personalities of the different characters.
A lot of people might argue, but the music was great as well. I mean, it’s not the top 40 hits you’d hear on the radio; but the Ajadi song that Alexx Ekubo’s artiste character made for the campaign was a proper jam.
The set design, camera angles, and general art direction were on beat for this movie.
Lastly, the movie holds very hopeful sentiments for the innocent at heart. All the while that forces were working to bring Ajadi down, they kept on turning out serendipitously for his good.
It’s the kind of movie you take your parents to so they can validate their false hopes of good triumphing over bad and anecdotes of God working things out for the good of the good guys.
It’s family fun for everyone because everyone loves a good underdog story.
Dragging time
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s time to drag Funke Akindele by her front hair. First of all, there were a hundred subplots that led absolutely nowhere. They did not lend to the story in terms of context or progression.
At some point, the movie felt like a poorly sewn medley of Instagram skits to watch during your lunch break but not think too seriously about. But even if you’re making comedy, you have to be serious about your work.
A good movie does not have loose threads and tendons that do not connect. For example, why the hell was Falz’s character from the legendary flop Chief Daddy doing in this movie with the forever irrelevant character of Beverly Osu?
To what end was Ini Dima-Okojie’s character flirting with Alexx Ekubo’s character in front of his wife? How did that lend to the storyline of Ajadi’s unlikely rise to the top? Not to mention the outrageous political ideas expressed in this movie.
A lot of the humour also seems to look down on the audience, with bite-sized jokes and scenes that you don’t have to reason through; it’s all for that cheap laugh.
I could go on and on, but why spoil it further? All the complaints I have about this movie pretty much fall under the categories of plotholes and cheap humour.
What is funny is that these were the exact same complaints I had about Sugar Rush. Maybe that’s just the format of Nollywood movies today.
In the end, I would give this movie a 4 out of 10; but I’m adding an extra 1 point because it made my mother happy.
Your Excellency is probably out of theatres now. But hopefully, you will soon be able to catch it on streaming platforms and be as humoured and disappointed as I was at it.
