Wives on Strike 3: The Uprising is the third instalment of a drama franchise Directed by Omoni Oboli. It tells the story of Mama Ngozi, a local government chairman (portrayed by Oboli), who faces the demands of her position and deals with a revelation about herself.
I’ll place the movie in the same category as Ajosepo and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti because of how it made me feel. Apart from being a drama, Wives on Strike 3 has other elements that meet the tastes of different viewers. This is part of why I believe the movie is worth recommending.
The acting in this movie is on point, and I must commend those who put together the cast. The actors did well in portraying their roles as they all displayed passion that translated into a good viewing experience. The emotional aspect of the movie was well put together, and so were the few comic reliefs the movie offers. However, some of the acting seemed too pushed for me or exaggerated, but not in a cringe state. It might just be a case of my preference. The cast is a mix of old and new Nollywood stars that include Chioma Akpotha, May Yul Edochie, Okey Bakassi, Uche Jumbo, Uche Jombo, Ufuoma McDermott, and Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori (KieKie), among others.
A standout actor in the movie is legendary actress Hilda Dokubo who performed well in transforming her character from a mother in mourning to a woman on the path of vengeance after discovering that her son was kidnapped. I truly enjoyed her portrayal of the role because her facial expression made it easy for me, as a viewer, to empathise with her. It made me look forward to seeing her get justice.
The intensity and mystery brought by Tomiwa Wategbe who starred as Emeka is something commendable. His character’s entrance brought depth to the story with an unexpected plot twist. The suspense in Wives on Strike 3 was well-balanced.
The movie’s cinematography is nothing beyond what we usually see in Nollywood. However, I must commend the camera movement and framing, especially in the parts with intense drama. The colour grading has a little desaturation, moving it away from the realm of Rec709. The colour grading works well in the indoor scenes, especially the part where Mama Ngozi addresses the wives. Sadly, the outdoor scenes seem to struggle with controlling highlights
I never expected to be impressed by the movie’s story while heading to the cinema. This is simply because the poster of the movie looked dull and no different from what someone just starting in Photoshop can put together. However, the story captivated me and so many others in the cinema. I could see some ladies acting so emotional almost as if the movie was real. Despite putting on my criticism lens, I couldn’t help but let down my macho guard to express some subtle emotion. The movie deserves a 7.5/10 rating because it achieved the aim of drawing an emotional response from viewers.
