Movie review: Love and New Notes is poor on technicalities; genre difficult to pinpoint

Love and New Notes tells the story of Boma and Chisom in 1984, as they navigate the consequences of a policy that affected Nigeria’s legal tender, the naira.

Directed by Kayode Kasum, the movie stars Ayoola Akinyoola, Eniola Badmus, Odunlade Adekola, Sophie Alakija, Timini Egbuson, Tolu Babs Omish, and Toluwani George.

This is one movie that is difficult to review without unleashing spoilers. Technicalities will be focused on.

This movie did everything to give the impression that it was set in the 80s, but we just didn’t get the vibe. The Afro on Boma, portrayed by Timini Egbuson, looked fake. Perhaps his natural hair was dyed beyond what was considered normal, or a wig was placed on his head. Whichever, it didn’t fit. Why not make the actor grow a natural Afro for the role? If that would amount to too much effort, why not make him wear a low-cut? After all, such a hairstyle was also popular at the time.

We noticed that the plate number of one of the vehicles used in this movie was just a printed sheet of paper taped to the back of the car. The directors ought to have visited garages with old cars to get the kind of plate numbers used during the period. That shouldn’t be difficult to find. We also wondered why cars used to depict a time period are always raggedy. Don’t tell us there aren’t sparkling-clean vintage cars parked in a garage somewhere in Nigeria.

Love and New Notes heist

Love and New Notes involves a heist presented as an opportunity seen by Chisom, who worked as an accountant handling the exchange of old naira notes acquired by a wealthy family during Nigeria’s oil boom period. The movie tries to present itself as a love story, but ends up throwing all sorts of angles at viewers, making it difficult to categorise it as comedy, romance, or horror.

The…