Is Christmas In Lagos The Nollywood Christmas Movie We’ve All Been Waiting For?
The tropes are magnificent and the Detty December dettier
- written by Joy Onu
- 3 min read
- 29 Dec, 2024
IMDb When it comes to a good Nollywood movie, I think we can all agree that a good storyline and captivating cinematography takes the cake. In both department, Christmas In Lagos hit the nail on the head, and quite aptly if we may add. The love triangle trope was quite evident as Fiyin (Teniola Aladese) secretly had feelings for her best friend Elo (Shalom C. Obiago), who was secretly engaged to Yagazie (Angelo Anosike) and then again, the epic love triangle between her mum, Gbemi (Shaffy Bello), her boyfriend, Toye (Wale Ojo) and her flashy blast from the past love interest, Chief Dozie (Richard Mofe-Damijo).
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this movie—wholeheartedly. It feels like the Nollywood Christmas movie we’ve been waiting for, the one poised to change the game. However, that’s not to say it didn’t come with a few hiccups along the way.
Let’s start with the love triangle trope—one of my favorites, alongside the “secretly in love with your best friend” angle. But dare I say, the chemistry between Elo and Fiyin was lackluster. There wasn’t enough palpable longing from Fiyin to make her feelings for Elo believable (which, in hindsight, makes sense since she realized she didn’t truly love him). Still, their connection could have been stronger. Normally, I root for the best friends to end up together, but this time, there just wasn’t enough tension to draw me in.
On the other hand, Shaffy Bello was outstanding as Mummy Fiyin, and this is where the love triangle truly shone. The dynamics between Toye (Wale Ojo) and Chief Dozie (RMD) kept me on my toes. At times, I was firmly #TeamToye; at other moments, Chief Dozie’s charm won me over. Both love stories were distinct and compelling in their own right.
The IJGB (I Just Got Back) storyline was another highlight. This year’s Detty December vibe felt especially relevant, and Ivie almost stole the show for me. She brought a refreshing energy to the film, and while her romance with Ajani (Ladipoe) occasionally veered into unrealistic territory, their chemistry was undeniable. On the flip side, Elo’s full-on accent? Let’s just say it threw me off a bit. The only time I truly felt connected to his character was during his emotional outburst at Fiyin after the forbidden kiss debacle. In that moment, his anger and heartbreak were tangible—and it was brilliant.
The film also tackled the theme of loss, and it did so with sensitivity and depth. It’s easy to associate the holiday season with joy and celebration, but this storyline was a poignant reminder that pain doesn’t take a holiday. The narrative beautifully balanced the sorrow of loss with a message of hope for brighter days.
And let’s not forget the setting— Christmas in Lagos. It was vibrant, luxurious, and unapologetically festive. The Ayra Starr cameo, the glitzy parties, the stunning cityscapes—it all felt like a love letter to the magic of Lagos during the holidays.
In the end, while the film had its slow moments and missed connections, it delivered on its promise of a memorable, heartfelt Christmas tale. Overall, it is a good watch, and will certainly pave the way for Christmas themed movies in the Nollywood scene.