Movie Review – Why Love In Every Word Is Trending

Omoni Oboli’s movie, Love In Every Word, is trending as #1 among Nigerian 2025 Latest Full Movies. Yours truly checked it out and clearly saw why.

The movie, uploaded to YouTube on March 7, has generated 8,886,929 views. It had passed 7m views when it was taken down, reportedly due to copyright issues over some drone clips used in the movie, but that setback which was quickly resolved has further stirred public interest in the movie.

Why do I think the movie is trending so hugely? It uses a tried and tested formula in its romantic storytelling. A self-confident (some will say, overconfident) and uber-wealthy male sets out to pursue a vulnerable female, pulling out all the stops. That formula has worked for centuries in romantic bestsellers and stage plays, as well as in filmmaking for as long as it has lasted.

It is also the fantasy of most young women – to meet a man who has scaled financial instability and who will come after them with single-mindedness. That fantasy is turning to desperation for some who struggle to be part of the lives of prominent men on any terms, hence the proliferation of side ch*cks and baby mamas.

But this movie does not tell the usual Nollywood Cinderella story – the penniless girl meets a prince or rich businessman who completely changes her life overnight. The vulnerability of the female lead in this case is not based on the emptiness of her wallet but on being disappointed by the men in her life.

Generally speaking, the picture is relatable on various fronts and thus resonates with viewers. For instance, besides the who no want better thing vibe created by the male lead, Odogwu’s lavish attention and gifts to the lady he is wooing, Chioma, the mother’s concern for her successful daughter’s single state and Chioma’s insistence on her spec are part of the persistent back and forth we often see in families with marriageable daughters. The question is usually, “How long will you hold out for your spec while time is flying and eligible bachelors are equally flying off the shelves?”

Furthermore, the issue of choosing between a salaried job and self-employment which is a dilemma Chioma faced has been extensively debated by my students and I recently.

The movie also shows that even sophisticated, financially independent women are still little girls at heart who just want to be spoilt as seen by Chioma’s excitement over the gifts Odogwu showers her with. Contrast that with when Chioma, her patience exhausted, stripped and kicked out her dependent, serial-failing boyfriend.

Moreover, although women are often said to be indecisive, Chioma’s mixed signals to Odogwu which were getting out of hand were duly explained later as emanating from a childhood complex traceable to her father.

The controversy generated by bloggers over the stereotype of the wealthy, unrefined Igbo businessman which some have adjudged the film guilty of reinforcing in Odogwu’s character has also helped publicise the movie.

I was actually surprised to find that Odogwu was not doing a caricature of an Igbo accent in the movie. He was portrayed as educated, with a taste for the finer things in life, but spoke clearly and forcefully as most men born and bred in Igboland do. His high-testosterone voice did not sound offensive. On the contrary, it was bona fide and some may consider it sexy.

It is wrong to expect people to give up their accents to meet a certain idea of polish, except it impedes their communication and ability to be understood. I am glad the movie did not include a stupid twist of Odogwu attempting to change his accent to impress Chioma.

Some have also drawn attention to Odogwu’s use of the term, “Onye nwem (my lord)” to address Chioma, pointing out rightly that it was Igbo women who historically addressed their husbands like that. I think this is excusable on the basis that a man will say anything to butter up a woman he wants.

What other things do I like about the movie besides the foregoing? I applaud the fact that the proposal in the movie is done in private and Odogwu does not kneel to do it since he is a titled man. Personally, I consider public proposals an embarrassment at best and blackmail at worst, especially when strangers get involved and begin to chant, “Say yes!”

I also liked Odogwu and Chioma cooking for each other. She did not consider herself too busy to cook for him, neither did he consider it beneath him to cook for her. Strict gender division of labour is anachronistic. Women doing all the work at home while simultaneously holding down full-time jobs as many do now is unsustainable.

In addition, the acting in the movie is convincing. For example, the chemistry between the lead couple played by Uzor Arukwe and Bamike (Bambam) Olawunmi is palpable, and Chioma’s bitter boss exhibits the right amount of harshness toward her.

Moreover, the dialogue in the movie is intelligent, with quite a bit of humour. The film is long with a running time of 115:58 minutes but the direction is smooth, giving the viewer the chance to soak in the performances without dragging them out unnecessarily.

I do, however, need to correct what I consider a misconception made in the movie about Igbo women. In one of her lines, Chioma said that Igbo men like to pamper their women while the women laze around or words to that effect. Nothing can be further from the truth. Many Igbo women contribute to the sustenance of their families. Some actually do the heavy lifting and not just when they are widowed. In the old days, they engaged in both farming and trading. And now, they work in government and the private sector while farming, trading and doing other businesses. Even the ones married by the Odogwus of this world help their husbands to manage their businesses or run enterprises of their own.

But in the movie’s defence, many people with Igbo names, like the character Chioma, know very little about Igboland – the people, the language and the culture. Igbo parents really need to step up to connect their children more to their roots.

Love In Every Word is an impressive work of art, I must say, despite the fact that as a Christian, I do not endorse certain aspects of the movie, particularly the sex before marriage. I rate it 9/10.