5 Reasons Why Niyi Akinmolayan’s “The Setup” Feels Like A Poor Setup

Despite being released in cinemas last year, Niyi Akinmolayan’s The Setup has just found its way to Netflix thereby making it reach more audiences than a limited cinema run would have allowed it. And there have been mixed reactions on social media as to if the film lived up to its pre-release hype as well as the one it has gathered over the past months through word of mouth.

While I must admit that the film contains very good pictures and the technical aspects of The Setup are quite commendable, the gaping holes in the film’s plot are almost too huge to ignore.

In this piece, I will give five reasons why The Setup feels like a bad setup because of its story deficiencies.

1. If you developed a connection with either Chike (Adesua Etomi) or Grace (Kehinde Bankole), then you can develop a connection with almost any object, and I salute you for having such superpower. We were literally dumped into their characters. Yes, they were pals in school and they stayed pals till they were co-opted into Madame’s academy. But it was difficult feeling for them. It felt like we were talked into looking into some strangers’ businesses. In fact, it looked like even the characters were all strangers to themselves.

2. And that brings me to my second reason: There existed no chemistry between any of the characters. Not between Mrs Elesho (Joke Silva) and any of her children (Dakore Egbuson & Ayoola Ayoola); or between the friends (Adesua Etomi & Kehinde Bankole). Even Madame (Tina Mba) seemed aloof with her partner (Jim Iyke) all through. Let’s not even discuss the cringe that was the “relationship” between Grace and Pastor Dimeji? And this problem stems from undercooked characters. If the characters can’t even connect with themselves, how would the audience connect with any of them?

3. I know there have been arguments, with the writer Naz Onuzo defending the part of the USA granting immunity for a crime committed in Nigeria and I am not a lawyer to have sufficient legal theories to neither back that story up nor debunk it, but that part of the film struggled to make sense to my legally untrained eyes. But the American law enforcement officer (Agent Kelly) seemed to drop into the story the way Olamide drops his surprise albums.

4. As hard as one may try, it is potentially difficult to ignore the mess that was made out of Chike’s alter character — the club waiter who could not pay her rent. From being this naive young woman one minute to talking back at the same landlord (Jim Iyke) who she has had to endure her overdue rent. This is even apart from the time these two people who were supposed to be in their con characters decided to scream at the top of their voices in the kitchen while Bamidele and Motunrayo could almost hear every word of their argument.

5. The parts of Madame being the late Chief’s mistress, Mrs Elesho taking away her child and threatening to kill Madame, Motunrayo inadvertently killing the child, Motunrayo begging Madame and promising to do whatever it takes to pay her back were rushed and undercooked. And it is discomforting watching it unfold while not really unfolding enough for much of it to make sense.

Honourable plot gaffe mentions also go to the green eyes part; Enitan suddenly becoming Madame; Edem being a persona non grata and wanting to bring down the Elesho family; as well as Chike and Grace’s escape from the drug enforcers.

But The Setup is NOT just all story holes and undercooked characters. It also featured some brilliant acting and the two actors whose performances stand out are Tina Mba and Kehinde Bankole. I have previously opined that Tina Mba is criminally underrated and I still stand by that claim. The woman is a beast. Also is Kehinde Bankole who was on another level in this film. Jim Iyke’s delivery has also evolved with time and he is more mature with his performance here. Dakore Akande’s work is also praise-worthy.