In Chief Daddy, many cooks enhance the broth

THOUGH the popular idiom warns that too many cooks spoil the broth, it is not the case with Chief Daddy, featuring the cream of Nigerian entertainment and set to premiere on December 2 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos before opening in cinemas across the country on December 14.

Written by Bode Ashiyanbi and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan with Mo Abudu as the producer, the comedy that has been over six months in the making, features Nigeria’s best entertainers who rather than spoil the production, enhance it.

Actors, comedians and musicians including Kate Henshaw, Funke Akindele, Patience Ozokwor, Nkem Owoh, Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah, Chinedu ‘Nedu’ Ani, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Jude ‘MI’ Abaga and Bisola Aiyeola star in the movie that had guests holding their ribs at an exclusive screening on Thursday, November 15 at FilmHouse Cinemas, Twin Waters, Oniru, Lagos.

Others who make the film that viewers would no doubt enjoy when it begins its cinema run tick include Zainab Balogun, Shaffy Bello, Lepacious Bose, Ini Edo, Linda Ejiofor, Mawuli Gavor, Ayo Lijadu, Beverly Naya, Uti Nwachukwu, Taiwo Obileye, Rachel Oniga, Beverly Osu, Rahama Sadau, and Joke Silva.

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Though classified as a comedy, Chief Daddy has a riveting plot with a cliff-hanger ending. Chief Beecroft, played by the veteran Obileye, is a billionaire industrialist with an exuberant, larger-than-life image. He is also a generous man who doesn’t turn any favour seeker away. All appears well in his household until Beecroft, fondly called Chief Daddy passes away.  Suddenly and unexpectedly, things go awry with intrigues and counterplots taking centre stage over his vast estate. There’s a memorable scene where Chief Daddy’s mistresses Ata Rodo (Ini Edo), Tomato Jos (Shaffy Bello) and Sisi Ice Cream (Linda Ejiofor) trade blows over his estate.

Chief’s only son, AK Famzy played by Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, is another character interested in Chief’s estate. A spoilt brat, he earlier turned down a role in his father’s company to pursue a career in music. With the help of his mother, Lady K played by Joke Silva, Famzy is determined to get the bulk of his father’s wealth to fund his ambition.

Chief Daddy’s daughters, Teni and Tinu, played by Kate Henshaw and Funke Akindele, are among the fortune seekers. Opinionated and feisty, they are Beecroft’s oldest children with his late wife and naturally dislike their step-mother, Lady Kay.

But mistresses and Beecroft’s heirs are not the only ones who want a piece of the action. With Chief’s demise, Chuchu (Omeruah) and Jodi D (Ani), owners of a failing funeral business called Last Bus Stop believe they have hit the jackpot when they are requested to coordinate Chief Daddy’s funeral.

It’s a boiling cauldron of fortune seekers who set off against themselves in a bid to get a piece of the pie as the movie with a beautiful theme song, Moving Mad and crisp photography unfolds to a surprising climax.