By Pass

African Nigerian Movie Review
By Pass ~ 2010
Story – Nnamani Sunday Steven
Screenplay – Emeka Amakeze
Director – Iyke Odife
Producer – Nnamani Sunday Steven

Actors and Actresses Starring:
Emeka Amakeze – Pastor Godwin/ Ejike?
Francis Duru – Barry/ Godwin
Biola Ige – Izzy/ Henrietta?
Leo Mezie – Prince Sam
Jackie Appiah – Adeline
Ngozi Ezeonu – Queen
Amaka Bessie – Shantel
Joy Helen – Amuche
Eve Nebolisa – Nkiru
Ed Nnasor – Nnaemeka
Zainab Egwuonwu – Landlady

Themes:
Religion
Marriage
Infidelity
Insecurity

Nollywoodforever.com Rating – 33%

Barry is oblivious to the fact that the woman that Adeline (Jackie Appiah) he calls his wife is a notorious prostitute. Twice in once day they are confronted by men from her past. Both were robbed by her or her associates and one claims that on top of that he contracted a venereal disease. Barry believes his wife when she says that she does not know the men. The realisation of the truth only hits him when she runs away from the scene at the second confrontation, after all if she were innocent of the accusations why would she run away? We learn that Adeline entered the world of prostitution after seeing her mother die in poverty and not wanting to subject herself to the same fate. She left the game as soon as she got married.

*************SPOILERS************

This movie was confusing for me. I see two pastors called Barry then both called Pastor Godwin. As I am watching I am wondering if I have missed a vital part of the plot somewhere. What was the point of Prince Sam and The Queen? They came from nowhere. Their position in the movie was not clear, and the appearance of their characters did not make sense to me at all.
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I thought it was a very passionate performance from Francis Duru. He plays the tortured heartbroken husband consumed with anger well. Barry allows his past to influence his future. He becomes a pastor, gets married to Izzy and the relationship deteriorates rapidly as she is always alone in the house, not allowed out whilst Barry is doing church work. His desire to keep her cocooned is borne from his insecurity that she may cheat on his as his first wife did. Izzy says to him,

“You want to run to the church to save a soul while mine should die?”

There needs to be a balance between home and work. A compromise needs to be made, as his wife does not feel valued and is not top priority whereas virtual strangers seem to be.

Biola Ige is supposed to be the new Nollywood sexy bombshell #EPICFAIL. This girl will never be Mercy Johnson. Her “sexiness” is so forced. Izzy, Henrietta or whatever her name is, played by Biola Ige is a bored horny housewife. Her idea of being sexy/horny is to suck on her finger, grab her breast and crotch while taking harsh breaths. What a hot mess!
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For me the movie started off very well and descended into a nonsensical borefest. In the first half an hour I could have sworn that I was going to rate the movie between 60-70, and some point that all changed. I heard Biola Ige being called Izzy and then the next minute Henrietta. I heard Emeka Amakeze being called Barry and Godwin as well as Francis Duru being called that. The movie was uninspiring and a bit of a drag. I would not recommend it at all.