After Funke Akindele’s 2024 blockbuster Everybody Loves Jennifer, expectations were sky-high for her next project, Finding Me. Released on Prime Video on March 16, this film had audiences eager to see if Akindele, known for her marketing genius and star-studded casts, could work her magic again. So, did Finding Me live up to the hype? Well, let’s break it down.
A Strong Cast with Solid Performances
One thing Funke Akindele never gets wrong is casting. Finding Me follows Tinuke Philips (played by Funke Akindele), a successful CEO of her father’s multi-million-naira company, Olowo Steel. Her brother Dotun (Femi Adebayo Salami) is the COO, but despite her career success, Tinuke’s personal life is in shambles. She is trapped in a toxic marriage with her narcissistic husband, Kolawole Philips (Joseph Benjamin), who constantly shames her appearance and pressures her into getting liposuction.
The film boasts a lineup of Nollywood heavyweights, including Efe Iwara, Joseph Benjamin, Omowunmi Dada, Femi Adebayo Salami, Shaffy Bello, Dele Odule, Sharon Ooja, Tina Mba, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Omoni Oboli, Emeka Nwagbaraocha, and AbdulGafar Abiola (The Cute Abiola). The performances were commendable, with Joseph Benjamin particularly standing out as the manipulative and cheating husband. If you hated his character, that means he played it well.
The Humor and Early Charm
One of the film’s strongest elements was its humor, especially in the early scenes. From Yinka’s father proudly stating that Tinuke has “two gidigba (Master’s degrees)” to Mr. Philips complaining about Tinuke eating fufu with her hands and legs at night, the comedy felt natural and enjoyable. Scenes involving Ndidi (Omowunmi Dada) and her siblings lying to their mother (Tina Mba) about having cancer just to extort money from Anthony added an extra layer of entertainment.
But as the movie progressed, the humor faded, making way for a flood of serious issues.
Where Finding Me Struggled
One major flaw was the overwhelming number of storylines. The film tackled body shaming, infidelity, betrayal, unrequited love, murder, family tensions, and emotional abuse—all in one movie. While each theme was important, they were thrown at the audience too quickly, leaving many unresolved by the end. It felt like just when you were processing one revelation, another bombshell dropped.
For example, what happened to Rebecca (played by Sharon Ooja)? Her storyline faded into oblivion as the film juggled too many other plotlines. Did Tinuke and her father ever reconcile? The story hinted at a strained relationship, but we never got a satisfying resolution. Also, how did Kolawole Philips become connected with Ndidi and her sister? The film simply glossed over that detail.
The Forced Chemistry
Another weak point was the romantic subplot between Tinuke and Anthony (Efa Iwara). The transition from a toxic marriage to a budding romance lacked depth. The build-up to their first kiss felt rushed and unconvincing. It played into the predictable trope of a woman immediately falling for the next available man after leaving a bad relationship.
Some Technical Missteps
Despite Funke Akindele’s reputation for high production quality, Finding Me had a few questionable moments. The first fight scene between Ndidi and her brother felt like something straight out of old Nollywood. The camera angles exposed the fake blows, making it obvious that the fight was poorly choreographed. However, the final fight scene redeemed this, delivering a much more intense and well-executed confrontation.
Another issue was Tinuke’s appearance. A woman of her wealth, status, and exposure, who regularly interacts with top business executives, would not be walking around in poorly styled braided wigs. It was a small detail, but one that made her character less believable.
What Nigerians Are Saying
Opinions on Finding Me are mixed, but generally positive:
Mark: “It’s Funke Akindele, one of the best we have in Nollywood. But the story became overwhelming with too many subplots. I’d rate it 7.5/10.”
Nifemi: “I loved how the film explored emotional abuse in marriage. It’s not always physical—mental abuse is just as bad. I’ll give it an 8/10.”
Faith: “The movie was funny, engaging, and visually appealing. There were some inconsistencies, but overall, it was a good film. 7/10.”
Final Verdict
Finding Me had all the right ingredients, a strong cast, a well-executed theme of emotional abuse, and moments of humor. However, it struggled with too many unresolved subplots, some weak romantic chemistry, and minor technical flaws. While it wasn’t Funke Akindele’s best work, it was still a solid Nollywood film.
