Everything is New Again is the latest Nollywood romcom to hit the big screen. The movie had a huge and creative marketing campaign, and featured some of the biggest names in Nollywood, but did it live up to the hype? There’s a lot to say about this movie, but the short version is - romcoms are so back! The movie follows divorced interior designer Funmi, played by Mercy Aigbe, as she meets and falls in love with the charming and significantly younger Ekene, played by Vine Olugo. Now, an age-gap romance where the woman is older is taken seriously is already rare enough, and seeing the story told so beautifully was truly a treat. Directed by Chinaza Onuzo and produced by Inkblot Studios and Film One Studios, all the talent that came together to make this movie did an amazing job.
If you only know Nicole Chikwe as an influencer and fashionista, it’s time to rebuild your image of her. She wrote the script for this movie, and it was thanks to that script that I was able to connect with the story so strongly. Everything is New Again has all the building blocks of a classic romcom from the meet-cute to the love confessions to the third-act conflict, and it’s clear that Nicole did her homework before penning this script. The cast is stacked with the likes of Mercy Aigbe, Nancy Isime and Desmond Elliot, but even superstars need a strong foundation to work with, and Nicole’s script was that foundation.
The story plays by the rules of romance, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. In fact, that is what made this movie even more exciting. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a romance done right - a movie that makes you blush at the right moments, gives you butterflies alongside the main characters and makes you cry and laugh when they do. This movie did all of that. The best romances are made all the more satisfying by the obstacles the leads must overcome to be together, and Ekene and Funmi definitely had many.
The story was satisfyingly deep, dealing with the trials that come with an age-gap relationship without shying away from that discomfort. Scenes like Ekene’s friend’s assumptions that he was only using Funmi for money and Funmi’s daughter’s reaction to seeing Ekene for the first time really hit the nail on the head. Both Funmi and Ekene feel like fully realised characters with distinct personalities that you can’t help but root for. Their conflicts and resolutions are believable with the right amount of drama to stay entertaining but grounded enough to keep viewers connected.
While Mercy Aigbe is a titan and did not disappoint, Vine Olugo truly stole the show as Ekene. Once again, kudos has to go to Nicole Chikwe for capturing what makes a great male romantic lead - not just machismo, but a strong emotional core. Ekene, as a character with a passion for photography, is creative and has an eye for beauty. He was the one who chased after Funmi and, when he realised that she was ashamed of their relationship, he was the one who asked for more. He was a true loverboy, and Vine Olugo held nothing back with this performance. His acting was dynamic, going big when he needed to make a point and showing restraint when a simple look or smile was all that was needed to sell a scene. No one can deny that Vine is a handsome man, but in case there were still any questions, the man can ACT.
There isn't too much to criticize about this movie so I won't linger too long on negatives. While the chemistry between Mercy Aigbe and Vine Olugu was undeniable, there were also some moments where the two didn't seem in sync. While Vine was employing subtler acting choices from time to time, Mercy was almost always at a ten. And who can blame her? Nine times out of ten it works. Unfortunately, next to Vine’s more subdued performanceher enthusiasm sometimes came off as overacting and didn’t match the tone of the scene.
There was also a disappointing lack of stories for the side characters in this movie. Or am I the only one who likes to get a taste of what the main lead’s friends and family are up to? Nancy Isime killed it in her role as Funmi’s best friend and protector, but I would have loved to see more of the inner life of her character. She mentioned that she was the baby mama of a politician, and it was implied that she had also had relationships with younger men, but none of this was explored. Likewise, Ekene had a whole group of friends that seemed vibrant and interesting, if judgmental, and it would have been interesting to explore at least one or two of their lives. Perhaps through Funmi getting closer to the girls or Ekene having a heart-to-heart conversation with his best friend and roommate about his feelings for Funmi.
But, even with those flaws, this movie blew me away. Congratulations to Nicole Chikwe for discovering this great talent in herself, because I truly believe she has many more amazing stories to tell. You don’t have to believe in love to enjoy this movie because it is about much more than that. As Nicole said in an Instagram post, “love, loss, reinvention and rebuilding” are themes explored in this movie, and as the story drew to its end, I found myself caught up in how this romance would conclude.
And that brings us to the ending. While the end of this movie truly shocked me, I believe it was the best choice for the characters. Out of 5 stars, Everything is New Again gets a solid 3.5. The talent both behind and in front of the camera was undeniable, and the story had the audience hooked from the jump. If you’re looking for a not-so-typical romcom to check out this Valentine’s season, there isn’t anything better in theatres right now.
