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“Something About the Briggs” Review: Bukola Ogunsola’s Film Cleverly Navigates Marital Realities

“Something About the Briggs” Review: Bukola Ogunsola’s Film Cleverly Navigates Marital Realities

Something About the Briggs

Something About the Briggs ticks all the essential artistic boxes for a romantic drama—an intriguing premise, a challenge for the lovers to confront, character development as they navigate the challenge, and a satisfying, well-rounded resolution.

By Fejiro Sagua

A prevalent statement amongst the myriad of pieces of relationship and marital advice is “love is not enough”, suggesting that a romantic or marital relationship requires more than just mutual affection to succeed.

Other factors must be considered, and various issues addressed, such as family background, views on love and marriage, emotional and mental health, and past traumas—at least in the case of Sophie Briggs (Ariyiike “Dimples” Owolagba) and her love interest, Chuks Obi (Daniel Etim Effiong), the main characters in Bukola Ogunsola’s latest production, Something About the Briggs.

Written, produced, and directed by Bukola Ogunsola, Something About the Briggs premiered at Filmhouse Cinemas, Lekki, on 26 January 2025, making it the first Nollywood cinema release of the year.

The film features veteran and leading actors, including Gloria Anozie-Young, Norbert Young, Daniel Etim Effiong, Linda Ejiofor Suleiman, Stan Nze, Elma Mbadiwe, Kenneth Okolie, Iyabo Ojo, Rita Dominic-Anosike, and Kalu Ikeagwu, as well as rising stars such as Ariyiike “Dimples” Owolagba, Simi Drey, and Kalu-Anaga Emmanuel Eme, also known as Kanaga Junior.

Something About the Briggs
Something About the Briggs

The precedent of Something About the Briggs is set when Sophie turns down Chuks’ marriage proposal because of her belief that marriage comes with a curse that runs in the Briggs household. 

According to her belief spawning from the examples set for her by her parents and siblings, love dies when marriage sets in and its ghost is a quarrelsome spirit, causing the couple to hurt each other constantly. 

However, when she shares this with Chuks, he insists on meeting her family, setting off a rollercoaster of events.

The couple embarks on visits to the chaotic homes of each of Sophie’s siblings: her brother Richard (Stan Nze) and his wife Nina (Elma Mbadiwe), her other brother Jason (Kenneth Okolie) and his wife Bimbo (Iyabo Ojo), and her sister Cynthia (Rita Dominic-Anosike) and her husband Olumide (Kalu Ikeagwu)

Each of these marriages comes with its own unique troubles, including physical abuse, emotional blackmail, manipulation, infidelity, a lack of respect for boundaries, and insecurity. With each home Sophie and Chuks visit, Chuks begins to question his decision to marry Sophie.

Something About the Briggs
Something About the Briggs

Something About the Briggs ticks all the essential artistic boxes for a romantic drama—an intriguing premise, a challenge for the lovers to confront, character development as they navigate the challenge, and a satisfying, well-rounded resolution. 

All these elements combined strongly evoke emotions from viewers—a healthy dose of laughter, occasional frustration, moments of sadness, and even tears of joy—enhancing the story’s depth and making the movie thoroughly enjoyable.

On a deeper level, however, the most significant aspect of Something About the Briggs that elevates its storytelling is its realistic and relatable portrayal of relationships. As the story unfolds, viewers are likely to see reflections of their own experiences or those of people they know, quickly realising that the issues faced by the Briggs family are not unique but universal.

Set in modern-day Nigeria, the film also delivers a clear and practical message in an era where transactional love is widespread: marital struggles transcend socio-economic status. 

On this note, Something About the Briggs naturally sparks long-lasting conversations on relationships and marriage among people with differing perspectives, challenging black-and-white viewpoints and offering a more nuanced take on marital dynamics.

By exploring themes such as respect, emotional security, forgiveness, and trust, the film also provides catharsis and hope for those enduring toxicity in their relationships or marriages.

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Something About the Briggs
Cast of Something About the Briggs

Beyond its storytelling, Something About the Briggs stands out for the stellar performances of its cast, both veterans and rising stars. Stan Nze, who recently portrayed a principled and relentless crime fighter in Tosin Igho’s Suspicion, showcases his versatility by embodying the abusive and utterly despicable Richard Briggs.

The movie characters are realistic and are depicted simply as flawed people with equal chances at redemption–gentle or harsh–giving room for empathy and understanding. Given the degree to which the film imitates life, it is safe to say that the characterisation was expertly handled.

However, Something About the Briggs has a noticeable costume flaw. Perhaps in an effort to emphasise the affluence of the Briggs family, many characters are frequently overdressed at home, often wearing extravagant fashion pieces. This slightly undermines the realism of the mise-en-scène. 

Not only is Something About the Briggs an entertaining, emotional, and dramatic watch, but it also offers insight into dealing with real-life situations and a good understanding of family dynamics. 

It takes the viewers on an adventure of emotions and lands them safely on a rewarding resolution. The costume flaw, though evident, can be overlooked, as it makes no significant dent in the plot.

Rating: 4/5

Something About the Briggs is set for release in Nigerian cinemas on January 31, 2025. 

Fejiro Sagua is a writer and film enthusiast who loves diving into the world of movies. She’s always on the lookout for great stories and new films to watch. When she’s not busy writing or watching movies, you can find her reading books, at the gym, creating content, or having interesting conversations with friends, family, or even strangers. You can get in touch with her on Instagram (@fejiro_sagua) and X (@bigbadfae).

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