Gangs of Lagos Review… a robust story would have made a bigger impact
Year: 2023
Genre: Relations, Crime, Action
Cast: Tobi Bakre, Olarotimi Fakunle, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Chike Osebuka, Tayo Faniran, Bimbo Ademoye, Chioma Akpotha, Iyabo Ojo, Wasiu Pasuma Alabi, Toyin Abraham, Omoniyi Raphael, Damilola Ogunsi, Mr Macaroni, Demi Banwo, Eniola Badmus, Yvonne Jegede
Director: Jade Osiberu
Writer: Kayode Jegede, Jade Osiberu
Cinematographer: Muyiwa Oyedele
Summary: Oba, Ify, and Gift grow up in the rough streets of Lagos and become part of a dominant gang while they plan on forging a better life
Overall Rating: Beignets 
Gangs of Lagos kinda reminded us of Jade Osiberu’s Brotherhood, having similar energies and location spots.
The movie was more advanced in terms of quality than Brotherhood; it wasn’t bad at all, just could have benefited from a robust screenplay to make a bigger impact
~Worth Watching~
Delicious
—When you hear the name ‘Jade Osiberu’, you think of quality and originality, and that’s what we got. Gangs of Lagos, just like Brotherhood, are never-before-seen scripts in Nollywood, so bravo Jade for pushing the envelope!
Sound design, photography, sound engineering, and score were on the plus side. They radiated the Lagos vibe making us feel like we were navigating the rough streets with Oba (Tobi Bakre) and his friends. It was a pleasant experience
—A great cast selection. We can never get tired of Tobi Bakre, Adesua Wellington (playing Gift) is a sweetheart, and first time seeing Chike Osebuka (playing Ify), he has great potential.
Tayo Faniran and Olarotimi Fakunle (playing gangsters) take home the awards; they were elegant and notorious at the same time. The kind of people you don’t want to become enemies with.
We cannot miss Chioma Akpotha’s (playing Ify’s mom) performance 😊 She was the lovable and dramatic African mother who rejoiced, danced, and also got very emotional
—It was humbling to walk in the shoes of Oba, Gift, and Ify who were trapped in a life of violence and bloodshed, yet, aspired for a better life.
Growing up in fatherless and poor homes, Oba and his mates were still sober wanting to live rightly and make wiser choices. We seldom think about what life on the streets is like and Gangs of Lagos gave us a taste of it
—The word ‘power’ kept on recurring to emphasize that education means little in our world, the more power/influence you have determines what your tomorrow will be like
Bland
—Oba, Ify, and Gift were childhood best friends, however, we didn’t feel a strong chemistry between them.
There wasn’t that inspiring camaraderie or strong emotions/attachment you’d expect from people who’ve gone through thick and thin together. They acted more like common friends
—The fighting sequences, though much improved, needed a further push, especially during the closing scene between Oba and his adversary
—Why did the camera operator capture a close shot of Ekun’s beard?😖😖We were so impressed with the beard until the close-up shots revealed it was fake…
—Because Gangs of Lagos was a story we’ve seen many times before, it was easy to predict the end from the beginning.
It would have made a huge difference to add something new to the table, e.g. design Teni (Oba’s love interest) in a more sophisticated way, have the three friends lock horns with each other, or end in a manner that signaled the battle wasn’t over.
Something out of the ordinary could have elevated Gangs of Lagos to greater standards
Viewers’ Guide
Language
Trailer
Available on
(Audio: Yoruba, English; English Subtitles: Yes)
