When I first heard the title Ada Omo Daddy, I won’t lie—I was confused. What kind of title is that? But Nollywood has done worse, so I decided to give it a shot. Released in cinemas in December 2023 and now streaming in 2025, the movie promised drama, love, and family tension. But did it deliver? Let’s break it down.
The Story: Wedding Party Reloaded?
The storyline felt oddly familiar, like a bit of The Wedding Party. Pero (Omowumi Dada), the eldest daughter of Chief and Mrs. Balogun (Dele Odule and Sola Sobowale), is set to marry Victor (Tayo Faniran). But just as things are looking rosy, Ifeanyi (Charles Okafor), Pero’s long-lost biological father, suddenly resurfaces. His return digs up buried secrets, threatens Pero’s wedding, and shakes the foundation of the Balogun family. Through flashbacks, we see how Ifeanyi was once an abusive husband, which led Pero’s mother, Ireti, to flee with her baby. Now, after years of silence, he’s back, seeking redemption.
The premise was promising, but the execution? Not so much.
The Good, The Bad, and The Hmmm
Let’s start with what worked. The cinematography by Barnabas Emordi was clean and well-done. The costuming was nice—Nollywood is getting better at styling their characters realistically. And Mercy Aigbe delivered a strong performance.
But then, the movie started to fall apart.
For one, Ireti (Sola Sobowale) shielding the truth felt unnecessary. The woman ran for her life years ago; what exactly was she hiding? Ifeanyi’s return should have been the perfect moment to tell Pero the truth. The girl is a grown woman, not a teenager who needs to be shielded from reality.
And then there was Victor—oh dear. This is the same actor who stood out in Gangs of Lagos, Tayo Faniran’s performance was as stiff as a mannequin. This is supposed to be a romantic movie, yet there was zero chemistry between him and Pero. Their relationship was so bland, it was like watching two strangers forced into a wedding. It’s like they were more interested in showing off Victor’s tattoos than making us believe in their love story. The Wedding Party gave us love, laughter, and chaos. Ada Omo Daddy gave us… a storyline that just existed.
Wasted Talent, Unnecessary Characters
Some of Nollywood’s veterans appeared in the movie, but their presence didn’t add much. Chief Ndubuisi (Chiwetalu Agu), Ifeanyi’s uncle, was meant to provide comic relief, but his jokes were dry. His role could have been scrapped, and the movie wouldn’t have changed one bit.
Charles Okafor, playing Ifeanyi, was another miss. His attempt at being remorseful felt scripted, like he was just reciting lines. I didn’t feel any genuine regret from him. Ifeanyi was supposed to be a broken man seeking redemption, but instead, he looked like someone just going through the motions.
Victor’s parents (Fred Amata and Carol King) were another afterthought. They barelys had any screen time, so by the time they reappeared at the wedding, I had almost forgotten they were part of the movie.
The Emotional Disconnect
For a film centered around deep family wounds, Ada Omo Daddy didn’t quite hit the emotional notes it should have. The tension, the heartbreak, the weight of years of absence, none of it felt real. Instead, it seemed like the movie was in a hurry to resolve everything and wrap up with a pretty wedding.
Pero’s anger towards her mother also felt forced. She was quick to forgive her deadbeat father, but she kept lashing out at her mother, the one who actually raised her? It didn’t add up. If she could forgive Ifeanyi, then the over-the-top tantrums towards Ireti weren’t necessary.
Nollywood Fans React
Of course, I’m not the only one with thoughts on this film. Here’s what some Nollywood lovers had to say:
Temitayo Abass: “Ada Omo Daddy was okay. It actually beat my expectations because, from the trailer, I couldn’t even figure out what the movie was about. The acting had issues, though—it wasn’t great. Pero and Victor’s chemistry was completely off, like they didn’t even like each other. But the costumes were nice. I’d rate it 6/10.”
Moranugba Divine: “It was just an okay film. The acting was good in some scenes and bad in others. Some characters, like Chief Ndubuisi, were completely unnecessary. Victor and Pero’s relationship was emotionless—Victor acted like he wasn’t even concerned about her. And why was Pero so angry at her mom when she could forgive her dad so easily? A 6/10 for me.”
Ada: “The story felt familiar, likes something I’ve seen happen in real life. It was emotional, but it could have been done better. I’d rate it 6.5/10
David: “Good story but weak execution. It could have been way better. If they really wanted a proper wedding film, they should have taken notes from The Wedding Party. Charles Okafor didn’t fit his role at all. Maybe if he was playing a rich ‘Odogwu’ spending money, he would have done better. I’d give it a 6/10.”
Ayaoba: “The story was too plain and predictable. I was waiting for some big twist—something shocking but nothing happened. This kind of story doesn’t belong in cinemas; it’s the type of film you’d expect to find on YouTube. The father came back, the daughter accepted him without question, and the mother didn’t even lie about what happened. Everything was just too straightforward. Not a movie I’d rewatch. A 5/10.”
Final Verdict
Ada Omo Daddy isn’t a terrible movie—it’s just painfully average. It had a good premise but lacked the depth and execution to make it memorable. The acting was inconsistent, the emotional weight was missing, and the romance? Nonexistent.
Spot on review! I totally forgot about Victor’s parents even existing until I read this article.