Released just in time for Valentine’s Day, Reel Love entered cinemas with all the makings of a box office hit: a star-studded cast, a romance-centred plot, and the irresistible promise of love wrapped in glossy social media perfection. With director Kayode Kasum at the helm, the film leans into a world where love isn’t just lived—it’s performed for the internet. But as one of the characters reminds us, “Not everything that glitters on the internet is gold,” and Reel Love itself plays on that irony.

Riding on the wave of holiday romance fever, it quickly became a commercial success. But beneath the surface of its shiny Instagram-worthy moments lies a film that demands a closer look. This review sets out to peel back the layers, going beyond the glitter to explore the narrative choices, character dynamics, and the filmmaker’s commentary on love in the digital age. Expect a deep dive into not just what Reel Love presents, but how it makes us feel, and why.

But, hey! This review contains spoilers! Certain moments need to be unpacked to fully understand our take. So, here goes.

Plot

Reel Love sets out to explore the complexities of modern relationships in an era dominated by social media. The film follows Tomide, a popular relationship influencer who carefully curates his online persona to reflect the perfect love life. However, when a heated argument with a stranger, Rachel, goes viral, his spotless reputation takes a hit. To repair his image, his girlfriend, Imani, suggests a staged romance with Rachel—an arrangement that, ironically, brings Tomide closer to someone he never expected to fall for.

Meanwhile, Rachel, reluctant at first, is nudged by her friend to embrace the opportunity for social media fame, despite her initial disdain for internet clout. As the two fake their love for the cameras (taking brand-sponsored photos, going on orchestrated dates, and playing into the public’s expectations) the lines between performance and reality blur.

While the intention seems to be a commentary on the superficiality of social media love, the film ends up mirroring the very hollowness it critiques. The narrative is riddled with clichés, from forced proposals to conveniently timed discovery of an engagement ring and her vengeful exposure of the truth. The film gestures at deeper emotional beats, such as Tomide’s strained relationship with his absentee father and Rachel’s grief over her father’s passing, yet these moments remain underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than meaningful character arcs.

Furthermore, The climactic reconciliation at the bar, meant to reflect Tomide’s transformation as he rejects social media validation, lacks the emotional weight to feel truly earned. Ultimately, Reel Love presents a plot that is serviceable but formulaic, offering little in terms of narrative innovation or depth.

Story

The story aims to delve into the pressures of modern love, exploring how societal expectations and digital personas can complicate genuine emotional connections. Through Tomide’s experiences, the film attempts to convey the struggle of balancing public perception with personal truth, highlighting the conflict between maintaining appearances and pursuing authentic happiness. The character’s emotional turmoil is meant to resonate with audiences who are all too familiar with the performative nature of social media relationships.

However, what we actually see is a narrative that feels shallow and contrived. The film introduces intriguing ideas such as the tension between real and performative love, the impact of social media on self-worth, and the generational cycle of emotional repression, but fails to explore them with any nuance. Instead, it relies on melodrama and superficial conflicts that resolve too conveniently.

Tomide’s struggle with his absentee father is touched on but never meaningfully developed, making their reconciliation feel hollow. Rachel’s grief over her father’s death is similarly reduced to a plot device, serving more to create drama between her and Tomide than to explore her emotional journey.

Just as Tomide’s sudden realisation about “true love” lacks any real build-up. Consequently, the story feels more like a cautionary tale than an authentic exploration of modern romance.

Performances

Timini Egbuson delivers a competent performance as Tomide, effectively capturing the influencer persona—charming, confident, yet emotionally disconnected. However, the script limits his range, making his character’s emotional struggles feel surface-level rather than deeply internalised. His chemistry with Rachel, played by TJ Omusuku, is inconsistent.

While they have moments of connection (including the good stuff), their transition from staged romance to real love feels rushed, and their interactions often lack the natural ease that would make their relationship truly compelling. Omusuku, in her first lead role, does a commendable job, bringing a grounded presence to Rachel’s no-nonsense, stubborn attitude.

Atlanta Bridget Johnson as Imani plays the role of the picture-perfect girlfriend well, but her character lacks depth. Her shift from being the composed, supportive partner to a sudden antagonist feels more like a plot requirement than a natural progression of her character. Meanwhile, Funke Akindele playing Tomide’s mother, brings warmth and humour to her role. Dakore Egbuson-Akande as Rachel’s mentor adds gravitas, though her character’s impact on the story is minimal but noteworthy. Muyiwa Ademola as Tomide’s absentee father provides an emotionally charged presence, yet the film barely scratches the surface of his strained relationship with his son.

Shaffy Bello and Bimbo Ademoye offer enjoyable performances in their supporting roles, with Ademoye providing comedic relief as Rachel’s lively best friend, Chizaram. Hermes Iyele, playing Megaphone, embodies the role of an opportunistic gossip blogger who is just there to nitpick and be a deliberate antagonist.

Strong individual performances shine in moments, but the overall lack of depth in character development prevents the cast from fully elevating the film.

Technical Aspects

Reel Love is technically proficient and slightly, creatively noteworthy. This technical precision, while commendable, results in a clinical feel that diminishes emotional engagement. The film’s visual narrative is competent with one notable strength is its visual parallelism particularly the contrast between Tomide and Rachel’s initial meeting at the crowded Ram and Beer bar, filled with public scrutiny and social media buzz, and their final reconciliation in an empty, phone-free space. This subtle touch effectively conveys Tomide’s decision to step away from the performative nature of online love, reinforcing one of the film’s central ideas.

When it comes to sound, Reel Love brings an interesting, if slightly underutilised, selection of soundtracks. Take the scene where Tomide is confronted with the reality that “not everything that glitters on the internet is gold”—right as Instagram Boy by Ifeme C.S. plays. With lyrics like “Na Instagram you wan dey find boyfriend, you don chop breakfast now, your eye don clear abi?” the song perfectly mirrors the film’s commentary on social media-driven relationships. Other notable tracks, such as Heavy by Remii and High by DM, contribute to the film’s emotional tone, adding a fresh and vibrant energy.

However, while these tracks are well-chosen, they’re not always given enough time to shine. Sometimes, the music is overshadowed by dialogue or cut short before it fully enhances the moment. There’s an undeniable connection between the soundtrack and the film’s unfolding drama, but the execution doesn’t always allow these elements to fully blend and elevate the viewing experience. It’s a bit like preparing a perfect playlist for a road trip, only to have someone constantly talk over the best parts of the song.

On the downside, the film still struggles with technical inconsistencies. The overuse of Kotrell’s Now and Always in emotional scenes makes certain moments feel repetitive rather than profound. While Reel Love succeeds in curating an engaging auditory experience, it doesn’t fully capitalise on it, leaving some moments feeling disconnected from their musical potential. Ultimately, the film’s technical choices, while functional and at times impressive, don’t consistently elevate the storytelling.

Final Thoughts

Reel Love attempts to critique the performative nature of modern relationships but ultimately becomes a victim of its own superficial storytelling. The film raises relevant questions about identity, societal pressure, and digital personas but shies away from exploring them with the complexity they deserve. Its narrative choices are safe and formulaic, offering a conventional romantic drama without the emotional depth needed to make a lasting impact.

A significant part of Nollywood’s charm lies in its ability to transport audiences into grand, cinematic worlds—sometimes larger than life, sometimes deeply relatable. Reel Love leans into that tradition, crafting a romance that feels heightened and, at times, out of reach. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We watch films to be blown away, to escape, to dream. But the problem isn’t in its idealism, it’s in the emotional disconnect that comes with it. The film wants to be aspirational, yet it forgets to ground its romance in an emotional truth that audiences can fully invest in.

This is why key moments, like Tomide and Rachel’s sudden transition from animosity to intimacy, feel rushed rather than earned. The chemistry isn’t given room to build organically, making the romance feel more like a scripted fantasy than a lived experience.

The visual parallels, such as the contrasting scenes at the Ram and Beer bar, hint at thoughtful storytelling but are undercut by the film’s reluctance to embrace ambiguity or emotional complexity. Instead, the story opts for simplistic resolutions and moral platitudes, undermining its potential as a thought-provoking commentary on contemporary love. In the end, Reel Love feels more like a reflection of the idealised love it seeks to critique. Beautifully packaged but emotionally hollow.

Verdict

Reel Love is a technically polished film (aside the peeking boom mic) but it struggles to tell it’s story in a way that feels genuine and emotionally engaging. While it offers relatable themes and impressive performances, its predictable plot and lack of emotional depth leave it feeling as hollow as the social media personas it critiques. Audiences may find fleeting moments of entertainment, but the film falls short of delivering a memorable cinematic experience.

Rating: 3/5