‘Who’s The Boss’ is a romantic film of gaping flaws [Pulse review]

It is almost impossible to point out Naz Onuzo’s directing style owing to the fact that ‘Who’s the Boss’ is the accomplished screenwriter and producer’s directorial debut.

The very first teaser for ‘Who’s the Boss’ was promising for a number of reasons. For one, the choice of its protagonist. However, those lofty dreams become short lived upon seeing the movie. Sharon Ooja is once again forced to embrace a typecast that’s lived just as long as her career.

Sharon Ooja is Liah, a budding advertising executive who must square up with Hauwa (Funke Akindele Bello), an insatiable boss who sabotages her chances of getting promoted.

Funke Akindele plays Hauwa, an oppressive boss [Instagram/Inkblot] ‘Who’s The Boss’ is a romantic film with gaping flaws [Pulse review] Pulse Nigeria

She elicits the help of Lekan ( Blossom Chukwujekwu), a certified playboy that she eventually falls in love with. Then there’s Jumoke (Ini Dima-Okojie), a sometimes selfish and sometimes selfless heiress. For the duration of the film, Jumoke struggles to find a place in the Lekan and Liah love story.

Ini Dima-Okoji plays Jumoke in 'Who's the Boss' [Instagram/ Inkblot] ‘Who’s The Boss’ is a romantic film with gaping flaws [Pulse review] Pulse Nigeria

Onuzo as the film’s screenwriter leaves a lot undone with the characterization of Liah or that of any other character asides Lekan. It is not clear if Liah is independent or constantly requiring external validation or if she is spineless and unfashionable or conditionally so.

Beyond characterization, Ooja’s character disappointingly wears typecast shoes. Ooja might have featured in over a handful of released movies since Ndani TV web series 'Skinny Girl In Transit', but, she has been unable to display the dexterity required to convince the audience that she can be more than a pretty face.

Make no mistake, fans love Ooja. She is one straight out of a magazine beauty. Lamentably, beneath her flawless features lies an untapped talent held hostage by a beauty that might as well be her curse. It is sad that Filmmakers have let themselves be hypnotized by this curse.

In ‘Who’s the Boss’, the Sharon Ooja curse makes yet another frustrating appearance. Her character appears largely needy and unable to make uninfluenced decisions.

Blossom Chukwujekwu's performance brings the thrill to 'Who's the Boss' [Instagram/Inkblot] ‘Who’s The Boss’ is a romantic film with gaping flaws [Pulse review] Pulse Nigeria

As a romantic film, ‘Who’s the Boss’ is not exactly fulfilling. Romance as a theme feels almost like a story filler as opposed to it being a major theme.

The film’s cinematographer (uncredited on poster), tries to experiment with the technical lighting of a romantic film. The ambience of the final scene where Lekan and Liah resolve their unconvincing conflict reflects a lack of warmth. It’s too dark with a harsh focus on its central characters. Dismally, that’s the best lighting experiment explored in the film. Other lighting attempts are basic at best.

In spite of its unnatural voice-over and echoing room sound flops, ‘Who’s the Boss’ might serve entertainment on some level. The chemistry between Chukwujekwu and Ooja for instance is amusing and easily relatable. Blossom is also a delight to see with how he delivers his Casanova character but of course, it’s Blossom.

If given a little more depth, the story had the potential of being totally worth the while.