“Reel Love” Stretches Timini’s Lover-Boy Trope to the Brink

Valentine’s Day and romance movies have a long-standing relationship—for obvious reasons. But that doesn’t mean studios should force-feed audiences half-baked love stories in the name of seasonal entertainment.

Nollywood, in particular, needs this reminder—especially Kayode Kasum and Timini Egbuson, whose latest Valentine’s Day offering, “Reel Love”, does little beyond recycling the same tired formula.

At its core, “Reel Love” spins a familiar tale of finding love in unexpected places. The title’s play on the word “reel” hints at its social media-driven premise—not in the sense of a meet-cute online, but in the way social media culture engineers the romance itself.

The central pair, Tomide Jobi (Timini Egbuson) and Rita Monday (T.J. Omusuku), don’t exactly get off on the right foot. Their first encounter is a heated argument, one that—unfortunately for Tomide—goes viral. As a well-known relationship influencer, his reputation takes a hit. To salvage it, his fiancée, Imani (Atlanta Johnson), hatches a plan: he should stage a fake romance with Rita. It’s a win-win for everyone—or so it seems.

With lucrative sponsorship deals rolling in, Tomide’s public image (and bank account) get a boost, while Rita earns enough to cover her father’s medical bills—an expense her humble background couldn’t afford. But the real casualty of this elaborate scheme is Imani herself. As Tomide and Rita continue their carefully curated social media romance, the foundation of Tomide’s actual relationship begins to crumble. What was meant to be a temporary fix soon turns into something real, leaving Imani sidelined and heartbroken. But she doesn’t exit quietly—before walking away, she ensures her revenge is as cold as the betrayal she feels.

The Timini “lover-boy” trope had already overstayed its welcome before “Reel Love” came along, and this film only drags it to exhaustion. The chemistry is nonexistent, the characters lack depth, and even Funke Akindele’s presence does little to salvage the film. In fact, the most memorable moment is a brief cameo from Bimbo Ademoye.

Timini, once again, plays a version of himself—the effortlessly charming yet emotionally unavailable lead. But unlike his previous romance roles, his supposed connection with Omusuku’s Rita feels unearned. One moment, they’re bitter rivals; the next, we’re expected to believe that a few staged Instagram posts and matching outfits have blossomed into real love? It’s a hard sell—and one that “Reel Love” fails to make convincingly.

There’s less blame –if any– on Omusuku’s part, not because it’s her first lead role –and thus, lesser experience than co-star –but because she offers a more compelling performance than Timini.

Perhaps the fake nature of their romance is meant to explain why their love story never quite lands. However, the issue runs deeper—the film itself lacks heart. The core message of “reel life vs. real life” is diluted by a predictable plot and shallow execution, and that a surprising low for Kayode Kasum, a director who has produced many romance-themed movies.

The bright spots of “Reel Love” are “reely” few and far between: original soundtracks and few moments of humor (thanks again, Bimbo Ademoye) glimmer.  Visually, it’s well shot, but aesthetics alone can’t carry a romance film that lacks genuine emotion and chemistry.

Beyond these minor highlights, “Reel Love” is a soulless film and a soulless romantic one at that. It takes the cake as the weakest Timini or Kayode Kasum production. However, the film’s ₦99 million-opener at the box office would embolden Studios to milk whatever “lover boy” stories that Timini would agree to feature. Die-hard fans of the actor may find this movie watchable, but for anyone with good taste, this film is best skipped—ask the cinema attendant for something else.

Release Date: February 14, 2025

Runtime: Approximately One hour and 40 minutes

Streaming Service: No, Cinematic Release

Director: Kayode Kasum

Cast: Timini Egbuson, T.J. Omusulu, Funke Akindele, Atlanta Johnson, Muyiwa Ademola Bimbo Ademoye, Shaffy Bello, Lillian Afegbai and Efa Iwara.

TNR Scorecard: