''Lunch Time Heroes'' is a 2015 Nigerian

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Seyi Babatope, and starring:

Dakore Akande Dakore Egbuson-Akande (born Dakore Omobola Egbuson; 14 October 1978) is a Nigerian actress. She is an ambassador for Amnesty International, Amstel Malta and Oxfam of America. Biography Dakore was born in Bayelsa State as the first child of her ...

Omoni Oboli Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), ''Anchor Baby'' (2 ...

, Diana Yekinni,

Tina Mba Tina Mba is a Nigerian actress who was nominated for Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards. Career In 2017, she starred in ''Isoken'', ''Bariga Suger'', ''Okafor's Law'' among ...

and

Tope Tedela Temitope Christopher Tedela (born 5 June 1990) is a Nigerian actor and producer. He has received several awards for his work including Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Nigeria ...

. The film tells the story of Banke (Diana Yekinni), a corp member who has been posted to teach in a high school and she has to gain the respect and attention of students and the faculty that don’t want her around.

Plot

Cast

*Diana Yekinni as Banke Adewumi *

as Principal Williams *

as Deji *

as Governor's wife (Special appearance) *Wale Macaulay as Mr Goke *Ade Laoye as Miss Uche *

Kenneth Okolie Kenneth Obinna Okolie (born February 21, 1984) is a Nigerian actor and model who was crowned Mr Nigeria in 2010 and in 2015 won the '' City People Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor of the Year (English) at the City People Entertainment Awa ...

as Mr Ishola *Bikiya Graham-Douglas as Mrs Aduwo *Tina Mba as Mrs Adewumi *

Udoka Oyeka Udoka Oyeka is a Nigerian-American actor, director, and producer. He directed the short film, Down and Out, which was nominated in 3 categories, including best short film at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Early life and education ...

as Reporter *Bucci Franklin as Andrew *Uzo Arukwe as Chris *Ijeoma Aniebo as Ijeme *Odenike Odetola as Miriam *Kada Matthew as Rukevwe *Deborah Oboh as Diekola *Christopher Ochinyabo as Femi *Sunshine Rosman as Amara *Cassandra Rosman as Kishi *Louie Obioha as Chimamanda *Donpet Enebeli as Hakeem *Tunji Aderibigbe as Moses

Production and release

''Lunch Time Heroes'' was shot in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

for 16 days. Some of the child actors used in the film were sourced through local churches, and none had a previous professional acting experience. Before the commencement of

principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...

, the director, Babatope had got the child actors on film set to play around, in order to desensitize them to the cameras, dollies, cables, lights and the peculiarities of filming environment. Onset photos for ''Lunch Time Heroes'' was released to the public online in March 2015. Trailer for the film was released in July 2015. It premiered at FilmHouse Cinema,

Surulere Surulere is a residential and commercial Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area located on the mainland of Lagos in Lagos State, Nigeria, with an area of . At the last census in the year 2006, there were 503,975 inhabitants, wi ...

, Lagos on 23 August 2015; with general theatrical release on 28 August 2015. The theme soundtrack for the film, titled "I Believe" by Capital Femi, was released online on 28 August 2015, along with its music video, which features the cast of the film.

Critical reception

The film has been met with mixed critical reception. Amarachukwu Iwuala of ''360Nobs'' commends the film's screenplay, character development and soundtrack, but criticizes the film for having several inconsistencies in its storytelling. She concludes: "Much as the story of ''Lunch Time Heroes'' is foreseeable, owing to the title of the film and the information on the promotional materials, one nevertheless enjoys the journey that leads to the final destination". Yvonne Anoruo praises the soundtrack, but notes the lack originality, and several inconsistencies. She comments: "''Lunch Time Heroes'' comes with a very simple plot, and with very predictable twists and turns. It is so focused on staying true to its subject matter and with rather rigid dialogues that it is altogether stiff. At the end of it, one realises that save a few characters, the others are largely flat. There were a lot of improvisations in measures that takes away from the movie. The final product does not elicit any feelings beyond the ordinary and if any, it totters on the edge of basic. Ultimately, for what it lacks everywhere else, the movie makes up for with very adorable child actors". Jite Efemuaye comments: "''Lunch Time Heroes'' is a good effort which is undermined by a less than dedicated attention to detail on the director’s part. Even with all its limitations, it is an entertaining movie, one that can be enjoyed by all members of the family, but it is easily forgettable". Yvonne Williams of ''Nollywood Observer'' comments: "Although ''Lunch Time Heroes'' wows with its uncommon storyline and brilliant performances from Dakore Akande and Tina Mba, it falls short in its delivery – somewhat un-contagious forced humour, thinness of the plot, overacting amongst other things. However, it no doubt would be a welcome delight for the youth and the young at heart".

References

External links

* *{{YouTube, plHl53WP5G0, ''Lunch Time Heroes'' trailer English-language Nigerian films 2010s high school films 2015 comedy-drama films Nigerian comedy-drama films Films shot in Lagos Films set in Lagos Nigerian children's films 2010s children's films 2015 films 2010s English-language films