Owambe Thieves has a good performance by Eniola Ajao and Zubby Michael, who starred as the lead couple. The movie tells the story of two people, Lola and Cheta, pushed to the edge, with tribalism working against their marriage. They are struggling and trying hard to survive in a world of crime, power, betrayal, and consequences, which they never expected.
The movie starts in a promising way, showcasing thrills and razzmatazz, but loses all of that before the end.
Cheta (Zubby Michael) and Lola (Eniola Ajao) held the movie down with their awesome chemistry, which made me believe in their relationship. Lola is tough, smart, and ready to take risks, while Cheta was initially portrayed as her loyal partner. However, the film took a strange turn when Cheta suddenly betrays her. That plot felt rushed and out of place. At some point, it felt as if it was not necessary at all. It should have been a case of two complicated but loyal people doing bad things for a good reason. Sadly, the writers went for a shock that was too cheap and sour to taste.
While I was almost dozing off at the cinema, I noticed the movie sliding into some action, which involved a heist and a revenge scene. However, both moments felt rushed and sloppy to me. The heist scene had choppy editing, and the revenge scene couldn’t evoke any form of emotional response from me. Both scenes lacked salt. The movie’s ending also didn’t tie things up well, almost as if the writers didn’t know how to end the movie. The film ended abruptly, without leaving one excited for more.
The movie is filled with popular names like Sola Sobowale, Odunlade Adekola, Wunmi Toriola, and even influencers like Unusual Phyna and Tolani Baj. Sadly, most of the actors were not suitable for the roles they portrayed. Casting Femi Branch as an Igbo man was off for me. He lacked the Igbo accent, and also, his carriage wasn’t typical of an Igbo man. It was also awkward that Yoruba music was played at what is supposed to be an Igbo wedding. Anyone paying attention would notice that.
I must commend Sola Sobowale for her strong performance; she brought energy and emotions to the scenes in which she appeared. Those scenes prevented me from finally dozing off. Despite Eniola Ajao also displaying a good performance, she faltered in the delivery of her lines in some scenes. I wonder why the director allowed this to make the final edit. Zubby Michael also deserves a few knocks for doing more than necessary. Some of the other cast members, like Papaya and a few of the influencers, felt out of place. Their performances were weak, and it’s clear they were cast more for their popularity than their acting ability.
Another issue with Owambe Thieves is the poor development of the side characters. For example, Lola’s mother and sister were introduced in a promising manner. Unfortunately, they just disappeared, making it obvious that the writers didn’t know what to do with their characters. The movie was a bit confusing because another character was named Lola. This made it difficult to know which of the Lolas was being spoken of when they were not present. I found that to be lazy writing, especially when the other Lola is the daughter of an Igbo man. That shows that the writers didn’t pay attention to details, because Lola is not a name associated with Igbo people.
Owambe Thieves will appeal to those who love the kind of drama Nollywood is known for because this one seems like it has drama on steroids. The costumes worn by guests at the wedding are typical of Owambe fashion. Technically, the movie is nothing to write home about. It gets a 5/10.
