Entertainment

A Lagos Love Story Review: I Was Squealing Half the Time While Questioning a Few Plot Holes

A Lagos Love Story definitely has my mumu button.

• written by Joy Onu
• 7 min read
• 16 Apr, 2025

Before I sat down to watch A Lagos Love Story, I was sure I was going to hate it. Between the negative reviews I'd seen on TikTok and the cheesy edits in the trailer, my assumptions overshadowed any excitement I had to experience it. But boy, am I glad I gave it a chance. On the surface, this Nollywood romantic movie seems like yet another cliché Lagos love story—and in many ways, it is. However, it offers a fresh perspective on Lagos romance that we haven’t seen before, and it’s incredibly refreshing. It’s the kind of Nigerian film where you can predict the ending in the first five minutes, yet still feel like the journey was entirely worth it.

Written by Naz Onuzo and Ozzy Etomi, A Lagos Love Story follows the life of an ambitious event planner trying to secure a big contract with a prominent company in Lagos. In a chaotic-meet-cute moment, she crosses paths with an Afrobeats superstar. Little does she know, she’ll have to work closely with him for a week of high-profile events to land the deal. Naturally, their work relationship starts off rocky—but, like any great romantic Nigerian movie, it’s already a match made in heaven.

From the jump, there’s an aesthetic and vibe to the film that pulls you in. The cinematography and soundtrack create a cozy, immersive feeling that connects you to the world unfolding on screen. Many Nigerian films tend to overplay the “Lagos aesthetic,” but A Lagos Love Story showcases the city’s buzz and beauty in a genuinely relatable way.

I’ve never watched a Mike Afolarin or Jemima Osunde film I didn’t like, and A Lagos Love Story is no exception. Jemima plays the ambitious event planner, Promise Quest. She is your classic uptight eldest daughter. While I found her name a bit questionable, in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter.

Jemima Osunde portrays Promise with endearing perfection. Who wouldn’t root for the perfectionist doing everything she can to save her childhood home and honor her late mother’s memory? Then there’s Mike Afolarin as King Kator—your quintessential Nigerian music superstar with a soft side you don’t often see. He nailed the role. Even the songs he “performed” were catchy little bops I unexpectedly enjoyed. There’s something inherently likable about King Kator, even when he’s being insufferable. It made him the perfect romantic lead, played by the perfect leading man.

The chemistry between Promise and King Kator was electric. I was squealing at every lingering stare and close encounter. That said, I wasn’t a huge fan of their first kiss. I get that it was meant to be spontaneous and awkward, but the lack of spark during the kiss left me somewhere between blushing and cringing.

The star-studded cast including Uti Nwachukwu, Susan Pwajok, Chimezie Imo, Uche Montana, Veeiye, Ihuoma Linda Ejiofor, and Ibrahim Suleiman, was perfection.

Susan Pwajok plays Promise’s younger sister, Favour, an up-and-coming fashion designer. Their dynamic strikes the perfect balance between sibling rivalry and sisterly love. Uti Nwachukwu was brilliant as King Kator’s slimy manager. Linda Ejiofor, as Promise’s terrible boss, deserves her own category for iconic face cards and fashion moments. Veeiye and Uche Montana were the mean girls, and I’ll admit, I initially fell for Adanna’s (Uche Montana) sweet-girl act, which made that subplot even more compelling.

Chimezie Imo plays Favour’s best friend, secretly in love with her. He’s an expert at portraying unspoken yearning, something we’ve seen in many of his past roles. Watching their interactions made it frustrating (but in a good way) that they couldn’t just get together already.

While watching A Lagos Love Story, I was swooning over the budding romance between Promise and Kator. The film is a perfect ode to hopeless romantics in Nigeria and around the world.

That said, the plot left a bit to be desired. Some parts of the story could have used more emotional depth to really drive it home. The biggest plot hole? King Kator never really questioned why Promise took money from his slimy manager. That conversation was too easily brushed over.

Sure, the film ended with a grand romantic gesture that left me cheesing. But I couldn’t help but feel it skipped an important emotional beat. A bit of groveling, followed by the romantic gesture, would have made the ending feel more earned. It all wrapped up too neatly without a proper explanation or confrontation. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t take away too much from the film. But it did impact the emotional payoff of their love story. It felt a little too convenient how quickly the betrayal was forgiven without a deeper conversation.

Ironically, the best part of the film wasn’t the grand romantic ending, or the fashion show, or the chaos in between. It was a heartfelt scene between Promise, Favour, their father, and their friends. That moment alone, with its aesthetics, vulnerability, and brilliant soundtrack, made me root for the entire family. Shoutout to whoever chose Chike’s Forgive for that breakup aftermath scene between Promise and Kator. They deserve a raise.

My Final Thoughts on A Lagos Love Story

A Lagos Love Story shows the importance of hard work, but also of letting love in when the chance arises. It’s a beautiful tribute to love and family, and a reminder that choosing love, especially familial love, is one of the most powerful things you can do.

It doesn’t offer too many surprises or dig too deeply into every subplot, which explains the plot holes. But that’s also what makes it perfect for a relaxing watch. It’s the ideal Nollywood romance film for hopeless romantics looking for swoon-worthy chemistry and an easy escape.