Was fairly keen on watching this Nollywood meets Bollywood production!
“Loose Translation = Hello Trouble!”
The Rundown
Behind the name: Hello Trouble!
Country: Nigeria, 2020
Genre: Rom-Com
Production: Forever 7 Entertainment
Distribution: Netflix
Director: Hamisha Daryani Ahuja
Cast: Ini Dima Okojie (as Didi), Ruslaan Mumtaz (as Raj), Richard Mofe-Damijo (as Earnest), Joke Silva (as Shola), Sujata Sehgal (as Meera), Ibrahim Suleiman (as Somto), Frodd (as Raymond)
Compare to: Chennai Express
Hate it or Love it? Entertain it
Synopsis in a Sentence: A Nigerian girl and Indian guy literally collide on a beach and fall into instant love, and of course their families have no chill!
On Writing: The Plot
The story is really, honestly corny. The concept is cool and could be fun, but somehow, doesn't quite land. Could it be the feigned depth? The premature sprint into love? The trite opposition of their families? Whether the culprit is one or all of these, the plot is quite unexceptionally delivered.
For being the first of its kind though, and for reflecting the marriage of cultures that Nigerian-Indians have been able to create over time, it deserves recognition.
(3/5)
On Acting: The Cast
A fairly good cast, but overall, underwhelmingly delivered action. Because it is corny. But oh well!
Ini Dima Okojie is Didi, and she’s believable as a love-interest, but hardly so as a lawyer. Is it her lines? The plot? The lack of depth of her character? What more can be said? Still, she is interesting to watch.
Ruslaan Mumtaz is Raj, the male love interest and he’s alright, yet some delivery is… corny. Could it be the lines or the unbelievable jumps his character is forced to make into love? Who knows? Eye candy to watch though.
Richard Mofe-Damijo is lawyer-father Ernest, and by now, he’s played this 100 times so… is it trite? Still, he is believable.
Joke Silva is sophisticated mum, Shola and of course, she’s great. Could be the ace of the production.
Sujata Sehgal makes her Nollywood debut as Meera, and she’s quite good as the Indian mother protecting her son from… the unknown… yet our introduction to her performance lacks the intensity it needed to be convincing. Otherwise, a good delivery overall.
And 2019 Big Brother Nigeria contestant, Frodd, makes his big-screen debut as Raymond, a convincingly entitled loser-brat!
Overall, a good cast who unfortunately falls victim to an undeveloped plot line…
(3/5)
On Production: The Creativity
Production is fair. It’s quite alright and loses itself in some cases, but it’s certainly not all bad. Perhaps it’s the best thing the movie has offered yet.. but then it’s not.
(3.5/5)
On Resolution: The Conclusion
It ends with the expectation that there will be a part two, because there is hope that this movie can redeem itself with a sequel that captures the wahala, and fun, of a Nollywood-Bollywood-Indian-Nigerian wedding!
(3/5)
The Verdict: A lukewarm, underwhelming, yet fairly light-hearted watch.
Overall Score = 12/20
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