What Love Takes Review: Does the Clinton Joshua and Mercy Kenneth Matchup Live Up to the Hype?
By Godwin Adigwe, NollywoodTimes.com Senior Critic
December 27, 2025 - (3.5/5 Stars)
If you've ever wondered what happens when two spoiled Nigerian teens are shoved into a forced marriage to save a family empire, What Love Takes (2025) serves it up raw, hilarious, and heartbreaking. Fresh from Sweet Nolly Films and starring rising stars Clinton Joshua, Clinton Ezenwa, and Mercy Kenneth, this 1-hour-25-minute romp dives into the messy clash of youth rebellion and parental scheming. Dropped on Christmas Day, it's already buzzing on YouTube for its unfiltered bickering and that earworm "Crazy World" soundtrack. But does it transcend Nollywood's trope-heavy pitfalls? Let's break it down like a proper Lagos film night.
As a veteran analyst who has watched this industry grow from VHS tapes in Alaba Market to 4K streams on YouTube, I sat down with this film to see if it’s more than just "fine faces." Here is my comprehensive breakdown of what works, what drags, and what this film says about the current state of Nigerian storytelling.
The Visual Language: Aesthetics vs. Substance
From the opening frames, it is clear that director and cinematographer prioritized a "clean" look. The camera quality is sharp, capturing the high-end interiors that have become a staple of modern Lagos-set dramas.
Cinematography & Lighting The film makes excellent use of close-ups during the frequent bickering sessions between Jack (Clinton Joshua) and Annie (Mercy Kenneth). These shots successfully capture the micro-expressions of teenage annoyance and budding attraction. However, the film occasionally falls into the "TV-style" trap—static wide shots in the living room that feel a bit like a stage play rather than a cinematic experience.
Lighting is generally consistent, which is a massive improvement for independent Nollywood productions. We don’t see the dreaded "power-light" shadows or inconsistent skin tones between shots. The color grading leans toward a warm, vibrant palette, emphasizing the wealth of the two families. It makes the world look aspirational, which is exactly what the target audience craves.
Sound Design: A Mixed Bag of Nigerian Vibes
One cannot review a Nollywood film without discussing sound. For decades, poor audio was our Achilles' heel. In What Love Takes, the dialogue is largely audible and clear, suggesting a decent investment in lapel mics and boom operators.
The Score and Mixing The use of the theme song—a soulful, somewhat melancholic track about "a crazy world"—is effective but slightly overused. It acts as a bridge between scenes, but by the third or fourth repetition, it starts to feel like a crutch for emotional pacing.
There were a few moments where the background ambient noise (the hum of an air conditioner or distant traffic) leaked into the dialogue tracks, but not enough to distract the average viewer. The musical cues for the "romantic" realizations are classic Nollywood: sweeping and sentimental, telling the audience exactly how to feel. It’s not subtle, but it’s culturally resonant.
Narrative Structure: The "Arranged Marriage" Tally
The story centers on Jack and Annie, two teenagers forced into a marriage to protect a corporate legacy from a villainous uncle.
The Hook & Pacing The opening hook is strong—the sheer absurdity of two 17-year-olds (Annie is "18 in four months") being told they are married is a shock to the system. The narrative structure follows a classic "enemies-to-lovers" arc.
The First Act: This is where the film shines. The scenes of Jack and Annie being forced to live in a house without help are genuinely funny. It highlights a specific Nigerian reality: the "rich kid" who has never washed a plate.
The Second Act: The introduction of Na (the maid/village girl) introduces a much-needed conflict. However, this is where the pacing begins to drag. Some of the dialogue scenes in the kitchen and bedroom go on about 30% longer than necessary.
The Climax: The resolution of the Na subplot feels a bit rushed. One moment she is a threat to the marriage, and the next, she is being packed off. Nollywood still struggles with the "middle" of stories, often filling time with repetitive arguments before sprinting to the finish line.
Plot Logic: Realism in a Nigerian Context
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the legality of the marriage. In Nigerian societal norms, "Family Arrangement" is a very real thing, especially among the ultra-wealthy looking to merge empires.
Character Motivations Jack’s decision to go along with it is fueled by a desire to protect the "Legacy." This is a deeply Nigerian theme—the weight of the father’s name. Annie’s motivation is slightly more reactive; she fights it until she realizes that Jack is her "G for life."
The Na Subplot Plot Hole The biggest logic gap is the introduction of Na. Why would a mother who is so obsessed with her children "bonding" alone suddenly bring in a beautiful, manipulative maid from the village? It’s a classic trope used to inject drama, but it feels like a step backward from the modern tone the film established early on. It feels like a "short-cut" to make the leads realize they love each other.
Character Analysis: Clinton and Mercy’s Chemistry
The success of this film rests entirely on the shoulders of Clinton Joshua and Mercy Kenneth.
Clinton Joshua as Jack
Clinton brings a "soft-boy" energy that is currently trending in Nollywood. He doesn’t play the typical aggressive African alpha male; instead, he is frustrated, slightly lazy, but ultimately protective. His delivery of Pidgin and English is natural, reflecting the code-switching common among Lagos private-school kids.
Mercy Kenneth as Annie
Mercy is the standout here. She perfectly captures the "Gen Z Baddie" persona—obsessed with TikTok, her phone, and her "baby girl" lifestyle. Her performance is physically expressive, and her transition from hating Jack to realizing he’s the only one who truly knows her is handled with more nuance than the script probably deserved.
Supporting Cast: The Mothers and Bunny Face
The mothers are played with the typical "Nollywood Mummy" intensity—controlling, glamorous, and fiercely protective of the family estate. Clinton Ezenwa (Bunny Face) provides the comedic relief. His character represents the "loyalist" friend, and while his scenes are often loud, they provide a necessary break from the teenage angst of the leads.
Thematic Depth: What is the Movie Actually Saying?
Beyond the romance, What Love Takes touches on several core Nigerian realities:
The Burden of Inheritance: The youth are often pawns in the games of the elders.
The Class Divide: The way the "village girl" (Na) is treated versus the "city kids" (Jack and Annie) says a lot about social stratification in Nigeria.
Modern Love: It suggests that in the age of social media and clubbing, true connection still comes from shared history and domestic vulnerability.
Technical Critique: Production Design & Wardrobe
The costume department deserves a shout-out. Annie’s wardrobe is curated to look expensive and trendy, which helps establish her character’s status. The set design of the "honeymoon house" is aspirational—minimalist, modern, and clean. It moves away from the cluttered, over-decorated sets of 2000s Nollywood, showing a more refined eye for production design.
The Verdict: A Viral Hit for the New Generation
What Love Takes is not a perfect film. It suffers from some overused tropes and a middle section that could have used a tighter edit. However, it succeeds in its primary mission: providing a high-gloss, emotionally resonant romance for a young audience.
It proves that Clinton Joshua and Mercy Kenneth are more than just social media stars; they are capable of carrying a feature-length narrative. The film is a testament to the "YouTube Nollywood" era—accessible, visually pleasing, and deeply engaged with modern Nigerian culture.
Who should watch this?
Fans of teenage romance and "enemies-to-lovers" stories.
Anyone who enjoys seeing the "New Nollywood" aesthetic.
Gen Z viewers who want to see their lifestyle reflected on screen.
My Thought: If you want a movie that feels like a warm Lagos breeze—slightly chaotic but ultimately sweet—this is it. Grab your popcorn, put your phone on "Do Not Disturb" (unlike Annie), and enjoy the ride.
Verdict: 3/5 Stars – A visually stunning, culturally relevant Gen Z romance that proves love can be found in the most forced circumstances.
Call to Watch: Have you seen the chemistry between Jack and Annie yet? Head over to the Sweet Nolly Films YouTube channel to watch "What Love Takes" now! Don't forget to drop a comment below—are you Team Jack or do you think Annie deserved better?
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