“A Weekend Fiasco” Entertains but With Hiccups

It’s time to question whether “cheating” is the only reason for a troubled marriage. Nollywood’s frequent return to this theme risks reinforcing a stereotype. Are marital conflicts truly limited to infidelity?

Starring Ini Edo, Alex Ekubo, Yvonne Jegede, Odunlade Adekola, and Chimezie Imo, A Weekend Fiasco follows a well-worn path. Despite new settings, the familiar premise persists: wealthy, devoted wives paired with unfaithful husbands.

The film centers on Nicole Ochuba (Ini Edo), a faithful wife who sacrifices endlessly to preserve her marriage. Her husband, Tobe (Alex Ekubo), is careless, ungrateful, and consistently unfaithful. Instead of spending his wedding anniversary with Nicole, he lies to his mistress Rekiya (Liquorose). Frustrated by Tobe’s indifference, Nicole agrees to a weekend getaway with Emmanuel Akinseye (Chimezie Imo), unaware of the chaos it will trigger. The trip spirals into drama and surprises.

Written by Kehinde Joseph, Shola Thompson, and Stephen Okonkwo, A Weekend Fiasco delivers both moments of impact and scenes that fall flat, preventing a seamless viewing experience.

After years of producing commercials and music videos, Switch Visuals’ first feature film is an ambitious step but not its strongest work. While it offers bursts of entertainment, the reliance on a star-studded cast and a familiar premise prevents it from being a defining debut.

Directed by Samuel “Bigsam” Olatunji, known for Dear Affy (2020) and Honeymoon Palava (2021), the film continues his interest in stories about marital tension. In this latest outing, Olatunji leans heavily on dialogue and cinematography. The film also echoes earlier works like The Devil is a Liar, once again exploring the ripple effects of lies and infidelity. Through its character dynamics, it shows how cheating is socially viewed from both male and female perspectives.

The cinematography is a clear strength, especially in the weekend getaway sequences shot at La Campagne Tropicana Resort, which capture the beauty of the setting. However, the editing undercuts this strength, as prolonged dialogue slows the pace and delays scene transitions, leaving stretches that feel stagnant.

The film’s biggest weakness lies in its overreliance on dialogue, at the expense of visual storytelling. Key emotions and conflicts might have been more memorable had they been shown rather than explained. There are also distracting caption errors and misspellings.

Performance-wise, the confrontation between Rekiya and Nicole at the climax is a highlight, pushing Nicole to let down her guard and betray her husband. Liquorose and Edo rise to the challenge, delivering convincing performances. Edo especially shines in an emotional packing scene, embodying the pain of betrayal with raw intensity.

Yvonne Jegede, as Ajoke, injects energy when needed, while Lizzy Jay’s Maureen leans into predictable comedy that feels too familiar. Her performance underscores the need for fresh roles beyond her established style. Meanwhile, Illebaye’s character adds little to the story; Maureen could have uncovered Emmanuel’s secret without her, making Illebaye’s role unnecessary.

A Weekend Fiasco is a blend of successes and shortcomings. Its most effective momentssuch as Edo’s emotional performance stands in contrast to missteps like uneven pacing and overworked comedy.

Produced by Damilola Oshikoya, the film closes with a cliffhanger: Who is truly responsible for Nicole’s pregnancy? Despite the questionable circumstances, the audience is drawn to root for her resilience.

As Emmanuel (Chimezie Imo) remarks in the film, “You can’t practice the truth. It comes from the heart.” That line mirrors the film itself: despite leaning on a worn-out premise, it manages to entertain in flashes.

Opening with N21.7 million at the box office, A Weekend Fiasco leaves the question of long-term success hanging, much like its unresolved ending.

Release Date: September 5, 2025

Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes

Streaming Platform: Cinema

Director: Samuel “Bigsam” Olatunji

Cast: Ini Edo, Alex Ekubo, Yvonne Jegede, Odunlade Adekola, Chimezie Imo, Vivian Iruobe (Waje), Roseline Afije (Liquorose), Ilebaye Odiniya, and Lizzy Jay.