HOODRUSH – MOVIE REVIEW by Augusta Okon

Movie Title : HoodRush
Starring: Bimbo Akintola, O.C.Ukeje, Gabriel Afolayan, Chelsea Eze, Ijeoma Agu
Directed by : Dimeji Ajibola
Genre : Musical

HoodRush is highly powered by music, an unusual genre adopted by Dimeji Ajibola in telling the story about love, passion, lofty dreams religiously stalked by ‘shattered pro’, daring ruthlessness… faced in Pursuit of Happiness. The lip synched songs which tow the Bollywood path, unveils song after song, which triggers off cinematic restlessness, except you’re a fan or patience happens to be one of your virtues. It is child’s play when compared to Bollywood’s renowned customary musical lifestyle powered on the big screen, but it still finds a sense of identity in the maze of untapped genres in Nollywood.

Two vocally talented brothers Shez (O.C.Ukeje) and Tavia (Gabriel Afolayan) dangle at the bottom of the social ladder. They dream of breaking into stardom having entered into series of talent hunt shows. The mega star dream is once more shattered following a scammed audition of a talent hunt show. Tied down with the chains of penury, despair and misery, Shez clutches at the straw of freedom Alhaja Kadisha- AK1 (Bimbo Akintola) offers him. This unwholesome relationship is financially rewarding and he dives into the pool of greed and selfishness, scheming to have his record label, but there’s a price he has to pay.

Lost in the garden of love he re-connects with the beautiful Shakira (Chelsea Eze) who becomes one of the victims caught in AK1’s business net, cast into the sea of illegality. Tavia , the younger of the two, still keeps the candle of hope burning having signed them up for the latest talent hunt show, “African Idol” organized by the renowned American Idol. He’s in love with Kelechi (Ijeoma Agu) who has been downtrodden by life and robotically obeys the whims and caprices of her aunt. She carries an emotionally torturing secret in her heart and with Shez lost in the sick world of guilty pleasures, the boys are on the verge of loosing out on a great opportunity that could change their lives forever…

Bimbo Akintola (Freedom in Chains) was spectacular, unequivocally playing the role of a sugar mummy, struggling with the waves of romantic insecurity, bitterness, chain smoking, ruthlessness and greed. She certainly hasn’t lost that golden touch in character interpretation. O.C.Ukeji and Gabriel Afolayan brought it on, as they lip synched to songs recorded originally by them. Gabriel gave a brilliant, emotionally triggering delivery in a heart rending scene that unveiled the consequences of making wrong choices, with his love Kelechi, (Ijeoma Agu of Hollywood Indie movie “AINA” by Maarore Pictures, and other soaps/stage productions, surprisingly the weakest link in the acting chain), bailing him out of his predicament.

The movie boasts of nice aerial shots, good cinematography, great songs worthy of massive airplay (written by Patrick Matthias) especially “Shakira” and “I believe in you boy” ... read more on http://9aijabooksandmovies./2012/11/10/hoodrush-movie-review/