Movie Review: ‘My 30th Wedding’

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Rating: 6.5/10

My 30th Wedding, a romance drama written by Ukeme Ninedeys, directed by Great Val-Edochie and produced by Grace Felix, with Timini Egbuson and Bimbo Ademoye as executive producers, is currently streaming on Bimbo Ademoye TV. The 2-hour-29-minute film centres on love, family expectations, marriage and the difficult choices that come with matters of the heart.

The Story

Elamosi Ogbetah, played by Bimbo Ademoye, is a successful event planner who has set a personal goal of having her dream wedding among the first 30 weddings she organises.

Her plans take an unexpected turn when, while working on wedding number 25, she meets Lekan Wellington, portrayed by Timini Egbuson, an entrepreneur and widower.

At the same time, Elamosi faces increasing pressure from her mother, played by Gloria Anozie Young, to settle down. Her mother attempts to match her with Osaze, played by Bryan Okoye, a seemingly nice and suitable man.

This creates a love triangle involving Elamosi, Lekan and Osaze, with Elamosi caught between the man she appears to be drawn to and the man who seems like the more obvious husband candidate.

Acting And Characterisation

The performances are one of the strongest aspects of My 30th Wedding. The cast generally delivers convincing interpretations of their characters, from Heavenly Dera Osadebe as Grace and Biola Kareem as Lola to Bryan Okoye as Osaze and the lead pair, Bimbo Ademoye and Timini Egbuson.

Patrick Doyle and Gloria Anozie Young also stand out as Elamosi’s parents. Their portrayal of the couple’s relationship is particularly enjoyable, while the father-daughter relationship between Elamosi and her father provides some of the film’s warmer moments.

The contrast between Elamosi’s parents is also interesting. While her mother is portrayed as the more difficult and pressuring parent, her father is gentle, supportive and affectionate towards his daughter.

Lekan’s relationship with his daughter also mirrors Elamosi’s bond with her father, giving the film an additional family dimension.

Story And Screenplay

The storyline is not entirely unfamiliar, but the screenplay keeps the narrative engaging for much of its runtime. The film combines romance, family dynamics and lessons about marriage and personal choices.

Some of the dialogue is witty, while several lines contribute to the light-hearted nature of the movie. There are also emotional moments that can make viewers smile and, at certain points, shed a tear.

However, the film becomes predictable in places and occasionally feels stretched. At nearly two and a half hours, there was enough room to develop certain elements more effectively, particularly the romance between the major characters.

The ending also feels somewhat rushed compared with the amount of time spent establishing the characters and their relationships.

Technical Aspects

The locations and costumes are appealing, while the cinematography has a cinematic quality. However, the visual presentation did not always have the sharpness and crispness that would make the viewing experience more exciting.

The makeup is generally good, although some of the hairstyles, particularly those involving frontals, could have been better.

There are also some subtitling errors, such as “Anuty” instead of “Aunty”, which appears in at least two scenes.

The background sound during the gala is another area that could have received more attention. The generic background voices do not always appear to match the number of people shown in the scene, while the event itself does not quite look like the 500-guest gathering referenced in the story.

Questions And Observations

One noticeable issue is the treatment of Elamosi’s Edo identity. The character is portrayed as being from Edo State and is passionate about her culture, yet the film does not appear to feature her or her parents speaking the language. A little more cultural nuance could have added depth to her character.

There are also some curious details. Elamosi is repeatedly seen carrying two handbags, but the reason for this is never explained. Similarly, Lekan frequently carries a small phone-pouch-like crossbody bag, including inside his house and during his proposal. Its significance remains unclear.

The late wife character, Elena, also raises questions. The photographs shown as belonging to her appear inconsistent, and Elena does not appear in the closing credits. Having a real actress portray her through flashbacks could have given Lekan’s backstory more emotional weight, especially considering how frequently he talks about his late wife.

Another issue is Lekan’s best man. His late wife’s best friend appears to fill that role, raising the question of whether Lekan had no close male friends or whether this arrangement was connected to his late wife’s wishes.

The Romance

For me, the biggest weakness is the romantic chemistry between Bimbo Ademoye and Timini Egbuson.

Despite their popularity with fans, I did not find their chemistry particularly convincing as lovers. Their interactions often gave me more of a sibling-like feeling than that of two people falling deeply in love.

Interestingly, Bimbo and Bryan Okoye appeared to have stronger chemistry as a potential couple.

The kisses between Bimbo and Timini also felt excessive and, in several instances, forced. The emotional build-up did not always feel strong enough to justify the intensity of the romantic scenes, making some of them feel mechanical rather than passionate.

Timini’s delivery was another personal issue. His voice is easier to hear when his character is angry or shouting, while some of his calmer conversations come across as less engaging. Thankfully, the subtitles help in such scenes.

Lessons From The Film

The movie touches on several issues, particularly the danger of allowing family pressure to determine marriage decisions.

Elamosi comes close to settling for someone she does not genuinely love, largely because he appears to be the safer choice and because of pressure from her mother.

The film also highlights the fact that parents can have completely different approaches to raising their children. Elamosi’s relationship with both parents demonstrates this contrast.

Another interesting lesson comes through Lola and Grace, as the movie raises questions about what domestic staff may teach children when parents are not watching.

Final Verdict

My 30th Wedding is a beautiful and entertaining watch with strong performances, engaging family dynamics and enough emotional moments to keep viewers interested.

However, the story is predictable, some sections drag, the romance could have been better developed and the ending feels rushed. The film also leaves several questions unanswered, including whether there could be a sequel and whether Elamosi might eventually regret her choice between Lekan and Osaze.

The actors undoubtedly add significant appeal to the project, and the film benefits from the popularity of its cast. Without that star power, some elements might not have carried the same impact.

Still, there is plenty to appreciate, particularly the performances, family relationships, dialogue and attention to certain visual details.

Overall, My 30th Wedding had the potential to be more than what it eventually delivered. It is enjoyable, occasionally moving and certainly worth a watch, but it does not quite rank among the strongest productions from the team.

Verdict: 6.5/10

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