Grammy winning artiste Lorde sings in her song, “Glory and Gore” – ‘In all chaos there’s calculation.’ There doesn’t seem to be any form of calculation or organisation in the chaos that is the plot of Our President’s Money. The plot is in disarray from the beginning through till the end, and one is unable to make sense of the film’s events. It is hard to give a summary of this film because of the frustrating randomness of the story. Stingy womanizer Dauda (Michael ‘McLively’ Anamesi) and boy toy of Amope (Toyin Abraham) plan to spend the seven days of a proposed COVID-19 lockdown to engage in marathon sex as Amope goes on a work trip that would keep her away throughout the lockdown. After multiple trials, he finally finds a willing partner but complications arise and one hour into the 1-hour 30-minute film, some money is mentioned.
Our President’s Money starts off with a confusing prologue where the characters say what they would do with their money. Then an unnecessarily lengthy first scene and several succeeding scenes could have been packed into a montage, which would have passed the point across in a tidier manner. At no point in the film does it seem to have any sense of direction, it looks like efforts were made for the events of the story to be as random as possible without regard for the dynamics and progression of the plot. With the eponymous major conflict forgotten, and minor conflicts addressed here and there, Our President’s Money looks like a collection of closely related skits featuring the same principal cast.
The action of Our President’s Money is bland and contributing to this is the lack of a proper introduction of the characters. It is hard to point out who the main characters are and what their motivations are in relation to the plot. Is it Dauda with his unsuccessful womanizing escapades? (around whom most of the action revolves anyway). Or Emmem (Annie Idibia) who actually stole some money (The president’s money?) and is only introduced about forty minutes into the film? And although these characters would have needed little background exposition to better understand their motivations, no effort is put towards this, instead, we are only informed of their relationship to each other. And we are left asking, who are the characters?
The title of this film, Our President’s Money, gives the inkling of a potentially funny and exciting plot. But, at the end, one remains puzzled about the plot. For the first hour of the film, we are entertained with an overdrawn conflict that inadvertently becomes the main conflict of the film— Dauda’s womanizing and its complications. The money is mentioned towards the end of the film but even then, it takes a back seat to a jewelry box that has no bearing on the story. And the attempt at a denouement is flimsy and inadequate as it does not help to understand the preceding events.
Our President’s Money boasts of a star cast that have proven their mettle in previous outings. Due to the blandness and the scalar nature of the film, their efforts are rendered pointless as their performances are blown away in the wind. Our President’s Money is monotonous from beginning to end as it does little to raise emotions. There is no proper exposition, rising action, climax or adequate denouement. It is riddled with unnecessary scenes that make the bulk of the film. It’s a wonder how this left the preproduction phase if there ever was one.
Rating: 3.4/10
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Side Musings
- What is going on?
- Mc Lively, calm down with the kissing
- What is the lock down?
- How Kayanmata take enter this matter?
- Low comedy
- There was zazzuu during corona?
- Who is the president?
Our President’s Money is showing in cinemas.
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