Directed by Chibuzor Afurobi, Grandpa Must Obey is a warm, PG-rated family comedy that clocks in just under one hour and a few more minutes. Kanayo O. Kanayo stars as Akachi, a grieving, stubborn 70-year-old widower who has turned to the bottle since losing his wife Helen (Elvina Ibru).
When his overworked daughter Mabel (Yvonne Jegede) has to travel for an urgent job during the Christmas season, she has no choice but to leave her two notorious children, Fola (Darasimi Nadi) and Femi (Fiyinfoluwa Asenuga), with the grandfather they barely know. The kids have driven every previous nanny away with their perfectly coordinated mischief.
What follows is a tender clash of generations that slowly melts Akachi’s hardened heart and teaches everyone that family, forgiveness, and second chances matter more than perfection.
Grandpa Must Obey
Directed by; Chibuzor Afurobi
Produced by: Saviour Kings Bob
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
A Chaos That Hides Real Pain
The film opens with a delightful animated title sequence that instantly signals fun ahead. We quickly meet Fola and Femi, two bright, energetic siblings who have turned chaos into an art form. Their single mother has raised them alone while their father’s non-presence is in hushes, a quiet wound the film reveals gently.
Nanny after nanny quits in spectacular fashion until Mabel runs out of options and deposits the children at Grandpa Akachi’s doorstep just before Christmas.
Akachi is not ready. He lives alone, drinks too much, and keeps everyone at arm’s length, including his kind neighbour Yemisi (Bimbo Akintola), who has been trying to reach him. What starts as a battle of wills (the kids determined to break him, Akachi determined to stay broken) gradually becomes something softer.
Through pranks, arguments, accidental truths, and small moments of vulnerability, the three begin to understand each other’s pain and discover that healing often arrives in the form of noisy, mischievous grandchildren.
Tone and Comedy That Respects Its Audience
The humour is soft, situational, gentle, and rooted in character. You won’t choke with laughter, but you will smile constantly and let out plenty of “awwws,” “ohhhs,” and quiet chuckles. The film knows exactly when to dial the comedy down and let the serious moments breathe. When Akachi, drunk and hurting, says cruel things to his daughter, the scene is played straight.
The children feel it, we feel it, and their subsequent rebellion against him feels justified rather than random. This balance makes the film equally enjoyable for children and adults: kids love the pranks, grown-ups feel the weight behind them.
One Minor Quibble in an Otherwise Smooth Ride…
The only moment in Grandpa Must Obey that raises an eyebrow is a late-act incident where the children briefly go missing from Akachi’s care. It caused serious alarm except that their mother is never told. It’s the kind of detail comedies sometimes ignore for pacing, and here it feels like a minor shortcut in an otherwise thoughtful script.
Performances Full of Natural Warmth
Darasimi Nadi and Fiyinfoluwa Asenuga are electric as Fola and Femi. Their sibling chemistry feels completely real; every scheme and every hug lands perfectly. Their sibling chemistry is effortless and infectious; every scheme feels like something real children would cook up. Kanayo O. Kanayo gives one of his warmest, most layered performances in years, moving convincingly from gruff isolation to reluctant affection.
Bimbo Akintola brings quiet grace as neighbour Yemisi, Yvonne Jegede handles the stressed single mother role with dignity, and Elvina Ibru’s de-aged flashback scenes with her husband are seamless and touching. Even smaller roles feel lived-in rather than caricatured.
Technical Choices That Serve the Story
The animated opening sets a playful tone that carries through. Comedy cues (light musical stings, well-timed reaction shots) are used sparingly and effectively. When the story needs gravity, the score drops out and the camera lingers just long enough for the emotion to land. The Christmas setting feels authentic rather than forced, and the bright, festive look never becomes garish.
Final Thoughts
Grandpa Must Obey understands that the best family films don’t need constant gags to keep you engaged. It trusts quiet moments, real emotions, and the natural warmth of good actors doing good work. By the time the credits roll, you feel lighter, a little teary, and genuinely hopeful, exactly the way a Christmas movie should leave you. This gentle gem stands out because it aims for the heart and actually hits it.
Verdict
Perfect festive viewing for the whole family. Bring grandparents, parents, and kids; everyone will find something to love.
If you want non-stop belly laughs, look elsewhere. If you want smiles, warmth, and a few happy tears, that’s it.
Rating: 3.4/5
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