The film Ruse by Great Val Edochie is a light comedy that is entertaining and, as a viewer, was able to leave a lasting impression. The centre of the plot revolves around Shalewa (played by Bimbo Ademoye), a marketing graduate struggling to survive. After numerous job turndowns, bills piling up, and the risk of being kicked out, Shalewa comes up with a bold scheme: borrow the makeup talents of her sister, Mabel, who is an untrained special makeup effects artist, in an attempt to get better employment by presenting herself as a man. This plot follows a series of laughs and a little sadness. The movie portrays the issues of sex, identity and society’s expectations of gender roles.
Ruse does not hold back when addressing Shalewa’s unfortunate situation, part of which shows her at rock bottom and living modestly with Mabel in one room. The use of realism in depicting constant hardship and struggles brings the plot close to reality. Many may relate to such desperation to gain employment, especially when there are bills to pay.
Shalewa, following her sister’s makeup effect, transforms into Kabiru, leaving Bimbo Ademoye playing a dual role. Great care was taken in the development of Kabiru – his speech patterns, as well as subtle behavioural traits, were well thought out.
Kunle Remi, who plays Derek in the movie, does a great job. This multi-layered character, a man who is depressed due to a failed marriage and is in search of a genuine friendship, must be very familiar to a lot of the audience. The best of his acting performances come out in the scenes with Kabiru. However, the relationship that was supposed to blossom between them was not persuading and felt more like an afterthought for a pleasant conclusion to the plot. Lines drawn, platonic relationships with a strong emphasis on friendship and common respect would have made more sense.
The supporting roles of the cast led by Ehis Perfect, Goroso Ekiti, Biola Kareem, Celeb Onwe, and Sophie Alakija also did not go unnoticed and certainly helped the movie. They added to the funny parts and the tension of the narration. One such episode was when Ramot attempted to seduce Kabiru, not even realizing that ‘she’ was a woman dressed in man’s clothing. Such moments heightened the comedic aspect of the film without it being cringing.
Ruse as a film is not only appealing but also addresses the subject of gender pay inequality in society. In a world where sexual orientation is an issue, Shalewa’s choice to masquerade as a male is problematic. The film doesn’t push this message or advocate for it but rather integrates it seamlessly into the storyline. Seeing Shalewa win as Kabiru only reasserts the annoying fact that sometimes women have to go the extra mile to attain equality.
The movie was amusing throughout. However, it had a somewhat anticlimactic ending. After experiencing such a fun and engaging ride, I expected something more rewarding. It was too quick, and some of the characters, most notably Derek, could be developed a lot in greater detail. Still, Ruse is a great movie, which deals with a lot of real-world problems, but in a funny and pleasurable way.
The cinematography is nothing to write home about. However, the movie achieves its aim of creating laughs and amusing moments. Ruse gets a 5.5/10.
