We recommend ‘Your Excellency’ if your appetite this weekend is ‘funny’ and ‘hassle-free’. This Ebonylife production is a political satire directed by the unforgettable Funke Akindele. Funke also stars in this film as the lead female character; second wife of Chief Olalekan Ajadi, an incompetent businessman who contests for the Presidency and stumbles into unexpected success in his campaign. With all of her comedy experience in front of the camera, Funke is bound to give us some rib-cracking moments in this film. Not only because she starred in it, but because she directed it as well.
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Funke has stated in a conversation with Pulse, that the film was originally based on a script by Mo Abudu, but was adapted to what will be opening in cinemas today. In a separate statement, she downplays her influence on the film:
“Your Excellency already had a great script by Yinka Ogun, a wonderful cast and experienced producers, so all I had to do was provide a guiding hand and make sure we keep the audience entertained from beginning to end.”
Funke Akindele
The story apparently aims to highlight social media culture and its influence on more formal institutions like politics. It is not Chief Olalekan’s merit that earns him credibility in the Presidential campaign he is contesting for, but his silly antics on social media. Members of the cast include Akin Lewis, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Shaffy Bello, Kunle Coker, Eku Edewor, ‘Emma OMG’, Alexx Ekubo, Osas Ighodaro, Seyi Law, Bimbo Manuel, Deyemi Okanlawon, Ini Dima-Okojie, Chigul, Ikechukwu, Helen Paul and Toni Tones.
Mo Abudu declares audiences are in for a treat with this one, and considering the retinue of crowd-pleasers Ebonylife has released in recent times (Fifty, The Wedding Party and Chief Daddy); her word may be worth trusting. Executive Producer Mo Abudu is already excited about the film.
“Every Christmas, we aim to deliver a feel-good, family movie for our viewers, and Your Excellency is no exception. This time, we have Nigeria’s funniest woman as both lead actor and first-time director, and she delivers on both counts.”
Mo Abudu
Funke Akindele is an actress best known for her hilarious character Jenifa in Jenifa’s Diary. Your Excellency is the first film Funke Akindele has directed, but over the course of her career, she has written, produced and starred in many others. If you watch carefully, you may even catch her brief appearance in that iconic Genevieve film; Sharon Stone. She has had a good run in Yoruba films for some time, but her major breakthrough came with Jenifa’s Diary. She won Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for playing Jenifa. She has a law degree from the University of Lagos and an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
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Watch the trailer for Your Excellency below.
Other films still in cinemas:
Muna
A thriller that is not everything it promises to be, but is enough to pass the time with. Adesua Etomi is Muna, a trained killer that decides to go after the child-trafficking ring that ruined her childhood.
Living in Bondage: Breaking Free
If you haven’t seen this yet, you should.
Sources:
Pulse NG
PM News Nigeria
The Guardian NG
Featured Image Source: PM News
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