''Men in Love'' is a 2010

direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...

Nigerian drama film directed by Moses Ebere and starring

Tonto Dike Tonto Charity Dikeh (born 9 June 1985) is a Nigerian actress, singer, songwriter, and humanitarian. On 27 August 2000, Tonto Dikeh set up her foundation, the Tonto Dikeh Foundation. In June 2022, Tonto was announced as the deputy governorship ...

John Dumelo John Dumelo (born 3 February 1984) is a Ghanaian actor, farmer and politician. On 1 April 2014 he emerged as the first Ghanaian to hit a million likes on Facebook. His parents are Mr. John Dumelo who was a Civil Engineer and Mrs. Antoinette Dumel ...

and

Halima Abubakar Halima Abubakar (born 12 June 1985) is a Nigerian actress. In 2011, she won the Afro Hollywood Best Actress award. Personal life Abubakar was born in Kano but is a descent of Kogi. She attended Ideal primary school in Kano then studied Sociology ...

. The film tells a story of how a couple experiencing troubles in their marriage has their situation worsened when a cursed homosexual friend visits them. The film is in two parts. The first part tells a story of how a previously promiscuous husband (Charles) became the love interest of his obsessive homosexual friend (Alex). Further, it establishes that despite his refusing the advances of his gay friend, Alex persisted and eventually raped his friend. The second part of the film explored what led to the homosexuality.

Plot

Charles (

) and Whitney (

) are a young couple with kids. However, their marriage is blurred by the frequent extra-marital affairs by Charles. After being caught in the act with his secretary, Whitney decided to call it quits. Despite conflicting advice from her friends, Flora (

) and Rina, she eventually accepted an apology from her husband for the utmost time. As a way of rejuvenating their marriage, Charles and Whitney decided to go on a vacation. At the hotel, they walked into one of Charles past lovers, which got Whitney irritated. Charles encountered his friend from

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

, Alex (

Muna Obiekwe Muna Obiekwe (born 1979) was a Nigerian actor. He was one of the most popular actors in Nigeria. On January 18, 2015, Obiekwe died from kidney disease. He was also the first cousin to Nigerian actor Yul Edochie Yul Chibuike Daniel Edochie pop ...

) who resolved the issue after some personal conversation with Whitney. After the vacation, Alex took Charles out for lunch and he began discussing with Charles on the benefits of being gay or bi as a man and countered the religious sentiment of Charles on homosexuality. He ended the conversation by opening up to him that he's attracted to men. He continued making sexual advances towards Charles, who got uncomfortable by the provocative text, calls and touch. When it became clear that Charles wouldn't reciprocate his advances, Alex tricked Charles into believing he will remain just a friend and got him to attend his birthday party, where Alex drugged and raped him. The part one (75 minutes) ends after Charles woke up the next day and angrily left Alex's house, after assaulting him in annoyance, on discovery that he had forcefully had his way on him.

Cast

Tonto Dikeh Tonto Charity Dikeh (born 9 June 1985) is a Nigerian actress, singer, songwriter, and humanitarian. On 27 August 2000, Tonto Dikeh set up her foundation, the Tonto Dikeh Foundation. In June 2022, Tonto was announced as the deputy governorship ...

as Whitney *

as Charles *

as Alex *

as Flora * Becky Ogbuefi as Pastor * Promise Amadi as Bobby * Ndu Ugochukwu as Cain * Queen Okoro as Tasha * Beckky Ogbuefi as Pastor * Nora Ugo as Barrister * Tetete as Bishop Duruzor

Reception

Nollywood Reinvented Nollywood Reinvented, also known simply as NR, is a website launched in 2011 and dedicated primarily to film reviews. It also provides information about films, actors, producers and other film people. It is one of the first review platforms ded ...

gave it a 2.5 out of 5 rating and concluded that "Interestingly enough, this story is not really as controversial as it was hyped up to be. It in no way addresses the issue of homosexuality in the modern African society.".

Controversies

Following the criticism that followed with his casting in the film,

released a statement where he explained that the major reason why he accepted to act in the film "...was just to create awareness that people who are actually gay most likely are under demonic spells." In another interview he stated that he loves women and will never be gay but does not regret taking the role in the film.

References

{{reflist

External links

*
Men in Love
' on