Men’s Code Barely Delivers a Different Lagos Love Story

Who knew dating could be this complicated? Men’s Code reminds us that love can indeed be tricky — especially if you’ve skipped Young Mama’s crash courses on understanding relationships. However, its storytelling delivery fails to solidify the momentum it could have built.

Three Ladies’ Journey to Finding Answers to Troubles of the Heart

At its core, Men’s Code tells the tale of three women—Yvonne, Osas, and Rita—who set out to reshape their love lives. Each of them faces unique challenges: Rita is stuck in a stagnant relationship with Frank, who shows no intention of marrying her; Osas’s marriage to Anderson is falling apart following the loss of a baby and her decision to quit her job; and Yvonne, who brings the group together, has suffered repeated failures in love. Seeking answers, the women cross a river to meet Young Mama, an aged woman who promises to teach them how to keep men and turn their romantic misfortunes around.

As the lessons unfold, the women experience varying outcomes. Osas, emboldened, tries withholding sex and focusing on herself, but this creates more tension at home. Rita, frustrated by her situation, begins to see her relationship deteriorate further. Yvonne, meanwhile, suddenly finds herself caught between two men—Smith and Frank—unaware that Frank is Rita’s ex. The friendships begin to fracture as secrets come to light, and the men eventually discover that the women have been manipulating them.

The narrative deepens when Young Mama is revealed to be driven by her own bitterness, rooted in losing her husband to another woman. This revelation casts doubt on the validity of her teachings. Ultimately, Rita accepts Frank will not return, Osas’s marriage finds some healing, and Smith comes to realise his genuine love for Yvonne. The story intertwines themes of love, sisterhood, betrayal, secrets, gender dynamics, and faith, with a strong emphasis on the complexities of relationships and the risks of manipulation.

How Conflict Drives the Plot Forward

The plot of Men’s Code unfolds in a fairly structured manner. It does have a familiar premise, but the extra angle of the ladies having love lessons, would have given it a bit more flair. The film begins with an exposition that introduces the three women and their troubled relationships, establishing the motivation for their journey to Young Mama. The inciting incident occurs when the women meet the elderly guide, who begins teaching them lessons about handling men.

From there, the rising action develops through the women’s attempts to apply these lessons: Rita struggles with her stagnant relationship, Osas’s strategy of withholding intimacy backfires, and Yvonne becomes entangled in a messy love triangle with Smith and Frank. These conflicts steadily escalate until they reach the climax—when the men discover they are being manipulated, leading to confrontations, broken trust, and Anderson leaving his home.

The falling action follows as the women return to Young Mama, only to realize that her teachings are rooted in her personal pain rather than wisdom. At this point is where the wobble beginning because all of a sudden Young Mama’s character is portrayed as a villain. Which disconnects the fairy god-mother persona she started off with. Making things a lot more confusing and unrealistic.

The narrative then moves into resolution: Rita finds closure with Frank, Osas’s marriage is restored with Young Mama’s reluctant guidance, and Smith chooses to pursue Yvonne with sincerity. The sisterhood is tested but remains intact, and the film concludes on a note of bittersweet reconciliation. The end also shines its light on a religious angle on how and why Yvonne and Mama both hate conversations about God. However, this was never mentioned or shown throughout the course of the movie. In fact, Mama’s story was well explained but Yvonne’s felt like a scene was either missing or not included at all. Making it feel like a sub-plot that was forced into existence by all means. With all that the movie juggled it would have been best if that angle had been left out completely.

Ebelle Okaro Delivers a Stellar Performance That Echoes The Story Even More

Leading the pack is veteran actress Ebele Okaro, who plays Young Mama. Introduced at the very start of the drama, her character immediately stands out through a striking physical transformation.

Okaro takes on a completely different appearance from her previous roles, maintaining a hunched posture for most of the film and adopting a deeper, aged tone to reinforce her character’s maturity. Beyond the physical demands, her scenes with the younger women unfold like intimate storytelling sessions. A style that subtly evokes the warmth and wisdom of a Disney-style fairy godmother.

Nse Ikpe-Etim continues her streak of thought-provoking performances, delivering yet another layered portrayal. With Enyinna Nwgwe as her husband, there is evidence of being opposite, especially with the subtle feud at the beginning. However, even when love seemed to experience a new flame, they didn’t seem to share a deep connection. And this is even obvious in the unimaginable fact that they were not aware of their individual friends.

Deliberate Sound and Setting Shapes The Story

The film’s sound choices were another standout element, beautifully enhancing its atmosphere. The music subtly infused the right mix of mystery, suspense, and romance at key moments, effectively reinforcing the narrative. Much of this was evident in Young Mama’s interactions with the women, where the score elevated their conversations, making them feel more like intimate storytelling sessions than ordinary dialogue exchanges.

On the other hand, the cinematography was kept plain and straightforward — nothing overly notable. Young Mama’s home setting was particularly captivating: the use of the waterway, the eerie house-in-the-middle-of-nowhere concept, and the thoughtful choice of props and colour palette all combined to create a visually intriguing space.

Final Thought

It’s very obvious that Men’s Club wasn’t shot recently, with the visuals and film look. Although its story was delivered interestingly, certain things didn’t just add up. How come the ladies had never met the guys, together, especially Rita and Osas? This singular oversight questioned the true nature of the guys’ brotherhood and the realism of the entire story.

It would have been lovely to see Rita also find love again after Frank’s mess. But maybe loving herself more intentionally was also what she needed after all.

As always, extras here and there in various scenes almost ruin the momentum being built. From the car towing scene, to the club scene and then the final scene. Further, echoing Nollywood’s need to pay more attention to skillful directing for extras, especially those who have speaking roles.

Verdict

Men’s Code does not leave a completely satisfying feel, with its very familiar storyline. However, it reaffirms that all the lessons and learning on how to treat a man or woman may not equate to the results we desire. As matters of the heart are far more complicated than a few lessons and additions.

Rating: 2.5/5

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Faith Oloruntoyin

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