Something about this movie draws you in, and I, with no high expectations, just left fully entertained by the time the credits rolled at the cinema. Something About the Briggs is pure Nollywood drama: chaotic, stylish, and packed with emotional highs and lows.
The movie follows the life of young Sophie Briggs, played by Ariyiike Owolagba. She refuses a marriage proposal out of the conviction that marriages in her family are cursed to always be unhappy. Her fiancé, Chuks Obi, played by Daniel Etim Effiong, is not ready to give up, so he embarks on a mission to discover the truth behind Sophie’s fears.
What follows is a whirlwind tour to see what life is like in the marriages of her siblings. First, there’s Richard, played by Stan Nze, and Nina, played by Elma Mbadiwe; Jason, played by Kenneth Okolie, and Bimbo, played by Iyabo Ojo; and then Cynthia, played by Rita Dominic-Anosike, and Olumide, played by Kalu Ikeagwu. From physical abuse and emotional blackmail to manipulation, infidelity, and insecurity, every home has its messy reality. With every visit, Chuks questions whether marrying Sophie is worth the risk.
The best thing going for this movie, however, is how well the cast delivers. With a lineup like Nollywood heavyweights Rita Dominic, Iyabo Ojo, Bukky Wright, and Norbert Young, I was scared this would be one of those “big names, weak execution” situations. Thankfully, no single actor was wasted, and they played their roles brilliantly.
Ariyiike Owolagba held her own as Sophie, a troubled young lady who probably has continuous internal battles; Daniel Etim Effiong was, as ever, charming and relatable as Chuks, the man slowly realizing he might be moving too fast. There was great chemistry between Stan Nze and Elma Mbadiwe as a couple dealing with their troubles, while Rita Dominic and Kalu Ikeagwu were a nice sight on the screen.
Visually, Something About the Briggs is nice but not stunning. The costume department deserves an award, as the outfits were too good. The fancy dresses, suave suits, and great wigs made this feel like Nollywood Bridgerton. But at some point, the overdressing was overdone; they could have dressed down for casual scenes around the house.
The makeup was perfect, the set designs were rich, and the cinematography was clean and well-lit. It avoided that dull, washed-out look that some Nollywood movies suffer from. The camera angle and lighting greatly added weight to certain scenes, making the drama feel a little more real. This movie displayed good performances from the entire cast, as they did well in interpreting the storyline.
For the lovers of Nollywood family drama with A-grade production and just a dash of chaos, Something About the Briggs will do great. Messy, literally in the best possible way, packed with great performances and an amazing storyline, 7/10 is a decent rating for this one.
