[Movie] Where Love Lives: When Money Enters a Marriage, What Is Left?

Though I like watching Nollywood movies, it's been a while since I watched one, and I always find myself laughing at something that was actually happening somewhere around in the movie instead of laughing because some scenes were funny unintentionally. I got that similar experience while I was watching Where Love Lives.

The main reason why I watched this movie was because of these award-winning actors, Uzor Arukwe and Bimbo Ademoye, but I got so engaged and carried away because I was seeing some relatable and touching things happening in Nigerian relationships, from family pressure to money to class to friendship to marriage and all this jealousy, competition and showing off that some people always exhibit when they start living in a community that they think they are above everyone.

This movie has quite some character, mostly females. But the character that got all my attention was Demilade. I liked her from the beginning of this movie because she always carried herself well, and she didn't move into the estate like a lady doing like someone who just became rich. She still had that local girl, Alaba, confidence in everything she does. And I admire how she didn't allow the likes of them. Eno, and Queen Imade became intimate with her. Though she sometimes enters unnecessary trouble because of her overconfidence. But I just enjoyed watching her like that more than watching another female character that allowed herself to be intimidated by others.

Another favourite character that I enjoyed was Queen. She can be unnecessarily controlling, effortlessly funny and annoying at the same time, and this was the reason why the estate people felt her presence, especially the women. The way she related with her best estate buddies, Eno and Imade, made some of the scenes more interesting because these women were also trying to prove to themselves that they were not small, and they always seem to get all the firsthand information on everything going on in the estate. You know that type of estate where before the next house hears about something, these three women already know. That's how they roll.

I think I had a problem with Demilade's husband Ekene when I got to know whether she loved him genuinely or for his money and things he was providing after he acted according to what his family members said. He went ahead to act like he was broke after receiving a planned fake call that his container fell into the ocean, just to fake everything; it is something I don't understand. If you marry anyone, you people should trust each other enough to have any form of conversation. This fake test led to him selling some of his properties just to see if his wife would leave him. But luckily, she passed all the tests.

During a hot moment in this movie, Greg made it hotter after he met Demilade. They became friends, and he wanted to use that privilege that she is now broke to request something more, but luckily she was smart enough not to fall for his trap.

I can't pinpoint a certain scene I like most. But what I know is that I like the way all the women interacted. From their secret gossip to arguments in each meeting, the bonds they shared and eventual vulnerability were more than I imagined. I also like when Ekene finally revealed that he was not broke and he just wanted to test what they have. It shows what they actually believed about their marriage, their stand in money and commitment.

A lot of scenes were very relatable, especially the family pressure and family part. It shows how a lot of people can just barge into married couples' lives and behaviour, asking them when they are having kids. Sometimes, people like this always make situations like that feel like a public project instead of something that is meant to be adored between the couples.

Though some parts were exaggerated and not physically possible Which I didn't enjoy. They were trying to push some narratives for us the viewers. And a movie like this was too long for the 2 hours plus they gave it. I just felt those unnecessary scenes should have been recovered.

But still, I enjoyed what I watched. Though the movie wasn't perfect, and that is normal, it was entertaining. I saw how some ladies can go to some certain extent just to show off. And I learned something very simple from the marriage of Demilade, which is most people think that love is put to test when there's no longer money, but I also feel love is also put to a test by how much we treat each other when everything is all about money.

Screenwriter: Bimbo Ademoye and Ukeme Ninedeys

Director: Great Valentine Edochie.

Genres: romantic comedy (rom-com) and drama genres.

I would recommend this movie to couples especially and anyone who is a lover of narration I have written or people in a relationship or about to enter one. I will give it a 75/100.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to review this movie, and I appreciate you all for reading. See you all in my next review.

_{Other images are screenshots from my movie player}