Synopsis:
Chief Daddy is a Nigerian comedy-drama film dealing with events after the death of a rich and extravagant businessman, Chief Beecroft (Nkem Owoh). Even within the confines of his primary family, Chief daddy was known to have a number of mistresses and illegitimate children. The unfortunate situation however comes about when he dies unexpectedly. Enter, his overindulged family and endless parasitic relatives whose only hope is a fresh dead body to plunge their greedy arms into to collect some riches.
Let’s begin when the extended family, friends, and interested parties join in for the reading of the will and all the intrigues associated with utterances made at the will is recalled example betrayal and fall out of bitter rivals. Not only his wife and children, but also his mistresses, without whom he could not have imagined his life, and even business partners, are fighting for the inheritance. In a peculiar twist of events, the lawyer assigned to administer Chief Daddy’s Will Tinuade Coker (Funke Akindele) tries to maintain order and understanding despite the tensions, hidden agendas and hidden motives.
The movie offers humor, drama and provides a Nigerian Cross Cultural perspective while addressing issues of greed, family, loyalty, and abuse of wealth and inheritance.
Awards & Wins:
Chief Daddy was a major box office hit in Nollywood and garnered several nominations and wins, particularly for its ensemble cast and comedic performances. Some of its accolades include:
- Best Supporting Actress – Funke Akindele (Nomination)
- Best Comedy (Nomination) at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs)
- Best Ensemble Cast (Nomination) at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEAs)
Cast & Crew:
- Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
- Main Cast:
- Nkem Owoh as Chief Beecroft (“Chief Daddy”) – The wealthy patriarch whose sudden death triggers the family drama.
- Funke Akindele as Tinuade Coker – The sharp-tongued lawyer handling Chief Daddy’s estate.
- Zainab Balogun as Ireti – Chief Daddy’s legitimate daughter.
- Kate Henshaw as Lady Kay – One of Chief Daddy’s mistresses.
- Beverly Naya as Sandra – One of Chief Daddy’s illegitimate children.
- Falz as AK Famzy – Chief Daddy’s wannabe musician son.
- Joke Silva as Madam Beecroft – Chief Daddy’s official wife, struggling with the chaos after his death.
- Patience Ozokwor as Madam Pat – A comedic character who adds tension to the family dynamic.
- Screenplay: Bode Asiyanbi
- Cinematography: Muhammad Atta Ahmed
- Music: Steve Sodiya
IMDb Ratings:
- IMDb Score: 5.5/10
- The film received mixed reviews from critics. While some appreciated its comedic elements, star-studded ensemble cast, and entertainment value, others found the plot predictable and lacking depth. Despite this, Chief Daddy remained popular with audiences, particularly for its humor and its portrayal of Nigerian upper-class family dynamics.
Personal Insights:
Chief Daddy is an entertaining comedy-drama inching towards a wrong side of the family dysfunction premise. The film includes a few of Nollywood’s top stars, which helps to enhance the otherwise ordinary storyline. Nkem Owoh’s small yet remarkable role as Chief Daddy sets the stage for dysfunction that is to follow while Funke Akindele as Tinuade Coker stands out for using humor with great effect.
The tension between Chief Daddy’s various “families” comes into play here – the officially recognised children and those from the numerous mistresses and kids who line up to pick a piece of his estate. The interaction and much of the comedy comes from the interactions and clashes of the different characters in the movie with each character bringing out a different flavor in the movie. Chief Daddy’s flamboyant and oblivious son, AK Famzy, played by Falz provides some comic relief with his stint as an over-the-top son and aspiring musician.
While Chief Daddy may not be one to dwell so much on thematic concerns, it earns a considerable mark in its entertaining aspects through speed of humour and improbable situations. The feuds and marital discord with all sorts of exaggeration are indeed funny, although they become rather formulaic. The story is less about conflict resolution and more about using unfounded phobia evoked by wealth, social status, and family loyalty towards rich Nigerians, which explains the audience reach in Nollywood.
The film is bright and shows the extravagant way of life of the Beecroft family and the wealthy settings and costumes. Additionally, the modern set, done in the Nigerian style, contributes positively to the music of the film.
In the essence, Chief Daddy is a light headed, easy to watch comedy which is not done with a very stern approach. It is one of the best celebrities directed Nollywood films and hence most Nollywood fans will like to catch it regardless of its oversimplified plot and stagnant character development for those who are not exactly entertained by mundane situations and star power.
Sequel:
Due to its commercial success, Chief Daddy received a sequel titled Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke, which was released on Netflix in 2022. The sequel continues the story, exploring the aftermath of the inheritance battle and introducing new twists and comedic conflicts among the Beecroft family.
