Wedding Bells Blues for the Kujus in Overstuffed Sequel “The Kujus Again”

In “The Kujus Again,’ the celebrated ensemble gets bogged down in a messy tangle of underdeveloped storylines and comedic misfires that fail to recapture the inspired hilarity of the first film.

The overarching plot kicks off with the highly anticipated engagement between Mauyan (Kunle Remi) and his fiancée Lily (Sophie Alakija). In hopes of uniting her soon-to-be in-laws, Lily insists the argumentative Kuju clan take full charge of planning the traditional Nigerian wedding festivities themselves. This premise sets the stage for all manner of predictable antics and misadventures to unfold as each eccentric family member contributes their distinct brand of chaos to the preparations.

And chaos does indeed ensue, as a half-dozen subplots all desperately vie for attention amid the central wedding pandemonium. The normally unflappable Maugbe (Timini Egbuson) and his partner-in-crime Chuks (Folaremi Agunbiade) idiotically squander money meant for event deposits in a sketchy casino misadventure. Their subsequent ill-advised efforts to recoup losses lead to an utterly zany kidnapping subplot that adds little beyond distraction.

Meanwhile, the formerly feuding couple Ebi (Bimbo Ademoye) and Chuks rekindle tired romantic tensions that bizarrely never progress in any substantive direction. Vague hints of marriage woes plague Mautin (Femi Jacobs) and Pamela (Mimi Onalaja), leaving one wondering why this storyline was even introduced, if not to impact the central narrative. And, in perhaps the most extraneous arc, family matriarch Mausi (Bisola Aiyeola) finds herself courted by a mysterious wealthy suitor played by cameo guest Don Jazzy – a detour that adds little beyond random celebrity stunt casting.

While valiant efforts are made to juggle this narrative overstuffing, the movie quickly devolves into a messy, unfocused endeavor. Momentum stalls as it becomes unable to determine which of the many underbaked storylines to develop into anything meaningful, insightful, or outright hilarious. The charismatic ensemble attacks every scene with zestful commitment, no doubt. And the polished production elevates domestic surroundings with cinematic flair. But the fundamental lack of cohesion or substantive insights into its culturally-specific dysfunctional family dynamics prevents ” The Kujus Again” from ever transcending its jumbled ambitions into wildly entertaining comedy.

Therein lies the crucial difference between this and the warmly celebrated original film. Where “Introducing the Kujus” felt like an effortless comedic whirlwind rooted in grounded human truths about the complexities of family, the sequel strains under its relentless pursuit of broad, goofy overkill. The scenarios quickly turn exhausting without any meaningful arcs or layered social commentary beneath the avalanche of half-baked shenanigans to make the journey feel worthwhile or insightful.

Even at just under two hours, the barrage of misadventures grows stale and struggles to sustain consistent laughs or emotional investment in the characters. There are certainly amusing moments that play toward the first movie’s strengths – wacky personalities clashing against age-old cultural traditions, values, and family roles in refreshingly unexpected ways. The sequence of Lily’s overbearing brother going head-to-head with Mausi over-planning the traditional ceremonial outfits strikes a clever balance of riotous laughter and astute social satire.

But more often, “The Kujus Again” falls into the unfortunate trap of believing excessive chaos alone equals effective hilarity without doing the legwork to craft substantive setups or payoffs. By constantly sabotaging its comedic momentum with hollow detours into half-baked subplots and superfluous characters like Don Jazzy’s glorified cameo, the overall viewing experience proves more exhausting than wildly entertaining eventually. The scattershot approach becomes the very antithesis of focused comedic craftsmanship.

While still earning respect for its energetic ambitions to expand the franchise’s horizons, the storytelling messiness ultimately leaves “The Kujus Again” feeling like a promising opportunity squandered. Longtime fans will certainly find fleeting joys revisiting these personalities but may exit wishing this second chapter better harnessed the precise formula that made its predecessor such a refreshingly insightful crowd-pleaser.

When juggling the complexities of Nigerian family, culture, and ceremonial tradition, sometimes simple and focused is the recipe for timeless laughter rather than excessive spectacle.

Here’s hoping any future installments can realign with the series’ chaotic but grounded comedic roots.

“The Kujus Again” was first released to the cinema on April 21, 2023, but it’s now showing on Prime Video.

Release Date:  April 21, 2023 (Cinematic Release); March 22, 2024 (Prime Video)

Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 35 seconds

Streaming Service: Prime Video

Director: Biodun Stephen

Cast: Bisola Aiyeola, Femi Jacobs, Don Jazzy, Bimbo Ademoye, MC Lively, Kunle Remi, Timini Egbuson, Mimi Onalaja, Sophie Alakjia, Chris Iheuwa, and Ronke Odusanya