“When Love Strikes” Review— Inkblot’s Football-based Drama Feels Like A Sleepy Rethink

Sport-themed films appeal to people for their relatable issues. Often, they focus on the transition of an underdog from obscurity to prominence. The protagonist’s upward trajectory is incontestable regardless of how much antagonism crosses his path. As such, when the narrative peters out, this protagonist becomes a hero, honored and celebrated for the ability to successfully translate his unique sporting values to team excellence. Incorporating drama and humour in storytelling, the sports film yields inspiring moments while romanticizing the experience of a specific game. In a country like Nigeria where football is the most popular sport, it is not surprising to have Nollywood films like Onye Egwu and When Love Strikes, both released this year, centered around football.

In Onye Egwu, produced and co-directed by Uche Jombo, the rise of a football talent contrasts with the decline of another, with the latter appearing to pave away for the former. Zubby Michael portrays Alex Mbanefo, a footballer forced into early retirement by injuries. He laments his predicament at first, and then becomes instrumental to the development of the football prodigy, Nedu. Onye Egwu was screened at the 2023 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and premiered on Prime Video on July 19, 2024. When Love Strikes, produced by Eku Edewor and directed by Adeoluwa Owu, has a similar narrative tilt. Initially released across cinemas nationwide on September 13th 2024 before recently making its Prime Video debut, the story chronicles the struggles and rise of a promising footballer, Ibukun Saka (Natse Jemide). Zubby Michael also stars in the film in a similar mentorship role as a retired footballer and agent, Nnamdi Okeke. Just as Alex in Onye Egwu is on the lookout for talent that he can fly to Europe and offer a better life, Nnamdi in When Love Strikes scouts for an MVP potential that he can manage and represent for global opportunities. The difference is that the character of Alex appears to be a bit more nuanced in construct than Nnamdi who is rather stoic and flat.

There are other glaring storytelling parallels in When Love Strikes and Onye Egwu that makes the Owu-directed film seem like a reordering of its counterpart. One aspect is the reference to the storied, stereotypical modern African parent who prefers that her child, especially the male, prioritizes his education over other promising opportunities that are not directly tied to academic qualifications. Because many African parents have been partially exposed to Western education, they perceive it as the only genuine gateway to prosperity and success while considering careers in sports and the entertainment industry volatile and less consequential. Even the uneducated folks believe that careers in science-related disciplines such as engineering and medical science, as well as a select few quasi-artistic disciplines, such as Law, come with prestige and guarantee a fulfilled life. This is evident in When Love Strikes where Mama Saka, played by Bimbo Akintola, tries to cajole Ibukun into forfeiting his football passion for an academic scholarship. In Onye Egwu, Nedu’s mother does not value her son’s interest in football. These mothers, however, want the best for their sons despite their skepticism and overprotectiveness.

Most times, before the interference of outsiders, family and friends provide the best support system for ambitious people. Onye Egwu shows this in the amount of help that Alex and Nedu receive in their career journeys. Similarly, Ibukun in the Inkblot production gets the confidence of his sister Tinuke (Osas Ighodaro), friend Ebuka (Chuks Joseph) and girlfriend Ngozi (Shine Rosman) despite challenges like the frequent bullying from rival Jason Okpara (Vine Olugu). While Nedu’s humble, impoverished roots contrasts sharply with Ibukun’s middle-class background, both are exposed to the pressures and obstacles that come with their aspirations for global sporting glory.

Unlike Jombo’s film, humor is not a major foray in When Love Strikes. It is sparsely used, with the filmmakers being more focused on delivering drama, peeling truths and rousing emotions. Yet in trying to achieve this, a few episodes detract from the plausibility of the film. One is the unprofessionalism of the so-called commentators. Their commentaries appear watered-down, a bit flippant, often drifting towards a random radio football banter. It is particularly irritating that the female commentator constantly picks on Ibukun, doubting his abilities and berating him on air. Another unreasonable part of the plot is the reunion of Tinuke and Tijani (Demola Adedoyin), which happens seamlessly as if they have only been apart for a few years—with the insinuation that they have not had any other serious lovers since their breakup. Surely, waltzing back into the life of a partner after twenty years cannot be that easy.

An unambiguous fact about When Love Strikes is that it doesn’t set out to impress with grand gestures, melodrama and overblown production values. But then, it badly wants to leave an impression about how the beautiful game is perceived in this part of the world. Kept simple and niche, the narrative appeals to sports enthusiasts in the country and joins the canon of sports drama in Nollywood. However, its limited vision and storytelling foibles diminish its candidature for cinematic excellence.