"Finding Me" Reminds You to Love Yourself
Funke Akindele blends humor with a heartfelt story about self-worth, resilience, and breaking free.
Finding Me sees Funke Akindele trade her usual high-energy antics for something more introspective. It sees the ace Nollywood filmmaker once again don a facade sheβs proven she can pull off, bringing Atinuke Philips to life in a story that passes an important lesson about self-love in a manner that is still deeply entertaining.
The story follows Atinuke Philips, played by Akindele, as she navigates a crumbling marriage to Kolawole Philips (Joseph Benjamin), a verbally and emotionally abusive husband, while simultaneously dealing with the politics of patrimony in her fatherβs company. Itβs a lot to juggle, and Finding Me is ultimately about Atinukeβs journey to rediscover herself and reclaim her voice amidst suffocating circumstances that threaten her self-esteem and autonomy.
Warning: This review contains spoilers!
Kolawole Philips, played to hilarious perfection by Benjamin, is a degenerate through and through. He introduces himself in the filmβs opening scene, making it clear from the get-go just how much of a parasite he is. From nearly choking a mistress to death to gaslighting his wife into handing over β¦500 million for his latest business doomed to fail, Kola operates without an ounce of shame. When Atinuke is unable to raise the money on short notice, even though she tries, Kola immediately runs into the arms of his mistress, further distressing his already strained wife. If you think that was all the realization Atinuke needed to sit up and see the full picture, then youβre in for some more surprises. It takes her a much longer time to come to terms with the fact that she is married to her worst enemy. So she hangs in and Kola continues to milk things to his benefit. If thereβs a rock bottom, Kola seems determined to dig right through it.
Running parallel to Atinukeβs woes is Anthony (Efa Iwara), a devoted boyfriend desperate to prove his love to Ndidi (Omawunmi Dada). Ndidiβs mother is battling breast cancer and needs two million Naira for surgery. Though Ndidi has siblings who are presumably capable of stepping in, Anthony takes it upon himself to raise the money, much to the chagrin of his sister (Dakore Egbuson). His unwavering devotion, however, turns out to be misplaced as Ndidiβs family is revealed to be a den of scammers, and his misplaced generosity leads to a devastating heartbreak.
The paths of Atinuke and Anthony cross through heartbreakβone battered by the lies of a failing marriage, the other by the betrayal of a deceitful lover. Their initial connection is professionalβAtinuke is first a client of Anthony at the gym and later an investor in his new business venture. But from there, a bond forms, and soon, they find solace in each otherβs arms. However, this relationship toes an unethical line, and in my head, Iβm thinking:
How appropriate is it for a wealthy financier to be dating a struggling someone theyβre investing in?
How appropriate is it for a single, smoking-hot guy to be frolicking with a still-married mother of one?
You may not worry much about answering these questions because Finding Me doesnβt concern itself with these complexities, breezing past them without a second thought.
Drama brews on all fronts. In Atinukeβs family, tensions rise between her and her brother (Femi Adebayo), the presumed βheir apparentβ to their fatherβs company. Despite being favored for leadership, Atinuke makes a catastrophic mistake. The β¦500 million she used to boost Kolaβs latest ego trip came from there, a decision that backfired spectacularly. When the siphoning is discovered, her father, heartbroken by her poor judgment, removes her as CEO.
Things spiral further. Now pregnant, Atinuke chooses to pass the baby off as Kolaβsβa lie that backfires when itβs revealed that Kola has azoospermia and is infertile. Enraged and out for revenge, Kola enlists his slimy best friend, Felix (Ifeanyi Kalu), in a horrifying schemeβto lure Atinuke into a trap and force her into an abortion. Talk about being the scum of the earth!
Despite its heavy themes, Finding Me never loses its comedic edge. Funnily, while Akindele is known for her comedic chops, she plays it straight here, delivering one of the most subdued performances of her careerβa refreshing change of pace. Joseph Benjamin, on the other hand, is a revelation. Who knew he had such impeccable comedic timing? Every scene featuring Kola is both despicable and hysterical, a fine balance that Benjamin manages masterfully.
Of course, the film isnβt without flaws. At over two and a half hours, the runtime is excessive. The pacing, while mostly fine, suffers from occasional lapsesβtime jumps that feel jarring, particularly in the evolution of Atinuke and Anthonyβs relationship. One moment, theyβre acquaintances; the next, theyβre passionately involved. Later, theyβre claiming not to have seen each other for six weeks, which feels at odds with their previous closeness. Additionally, the subplot involving Ndidi and her sister (Sharon Rotimi) quickly outstays its welcomeβtheir continued presence after their scam is exposed feels unnecessary and irritating. Then thereβs the scene of Atinuke drunkenly stumbling through a club and later at homeβan amusing attempt at physical comedy that ultimately needed more fine-tuning.
Still, Finding Me is an engaging watch with a powerful message. It serves as a reminder not to lose oneself in the pursuit of pleasing others. It encourages self-love and self-respect, reinforcing the idea that no one can love you more than you love yourself. Through Atinukeβs journey, the audience learns alongside her, absorbing lessons about family, self-worth, and breaking free from outdated societal expectations. The film makes a strong case for discarding harmful cultural normsβwomen should never feel compelled to remain in toxic marriages for fear of what society will say. Self-preservation must always come first.
In the end, Atinuke finally finds her voice. And in doing so, she reminds us all that sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones fought within.
Finding Me is streaming on Prime Video.
Thereβs a video review of the movie on YouTube, too. Click HERE to watch it.
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