This review is long overdue, so I will do this quick. I think Ijakumo offers something different in terms of the art direction, not aesthetically flawless but a good one nonetheless. And so does the director’s approach to the narrative. The problem really is the story; it was a shamble.
The Story
I get what the writer, or the director, or both of them depending on whose vision the final output was, was trying to achieve. The narrative tried breaking away from linear storytelling. The problem was the story ended up being linear with bad “jump cut” that doesn’t give a sense of direction. I would say the movie tried too much and successfully gave her audience too little to remember it by.
I have one bugging question at the end of the movie though, I don’t remember Jide taking karate lessons earlier in the movie? Perhaps I missed it while I was concentrating on the beautiful stripper.
Speaking of stripper, I don’t get the entire accent romance of Sharon (Lolade Okusanya). I just couldn’t tell when she was using what nor for what purpose. That’s on me. However, I believe Sharon’s scene may have been better mapped out and the accent defined depending on who she is interacting with. Personally, I believe the Sharon story arc may have been better told as a whole.
Behind The Scenes
Without going back on the need to foreshadow Jide’s fighting skill, I believe the fighting sequence at the climax and/or denouncement could have been better managed. It’s terrible to watch to say the least: poor timing, glaringly faked choreographs, unrealistic reactions and the list goes on.
Funny enough, the shooting and the gun handling was pretty good. The VFX wasn’t as bad either but the choreograph let everything down terribly.
I am never the guy to give away unnecessary spoilers, so you may have to go see the movie for this next one: Olumide Oworu playing a younger version of Jide was absolutely unnecessary. I mean Olumide Oworu is a fine actor and while there might be a reasonable age difference between him and Kunle Remi, if at all, physically both talents are grown men and don't like far much from each other. It couldn't have been hard to bring on a talent in his teens or early twenties to pass as a younger Jide. Or could it?
Then there is Bimbo Akintola's band of veterans with no output; such a waste that is really. Bimbo herself is a who other conversation however. Such a force of nature! I think she is re-inventing herself much like Sola Shobowale has been in the past three to five years or so, and it's exciting to see how Bimbo do that as well.
And can someone please tell the self-accomplished hacker not to keep reminding us that she's on FBI's most wanted list? The character's dialogues are as bald as it could get in the entire narrative. That's on the writer and director for such a shitty one.
The Wrap
In all, Toyin Abraham brought her A-game. She equally brought her aura to the character of Asabi and she delivered without prejudice. Other than that however, Ijakumo: The born again stripper isn't that great a narrative nor a movie. While Asabi's motivation may have been justified, her anti-hero status as a Christian crusader is questionable at best, so was a validation at the end of the movie.
Ijakumo: The born again stripper is now available on Netflix.
