Weekend Getaway
{{Short description|2012 film by Desmond Elliot}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Weekend Getaway
| image = Weekend Getaway poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Desmond Elliot
| producer = {{unbulleted list|Emem Isong|Ini Edo|Monalisa Chinda}}
| writer =
| screenplay = {{unbulleted list|Bola Aduwo|Kehinde Joseph|Uduak Isong}}
| story =
| narrator =
| starring = {{unbulleted list|Genevieve Nnaji|Ramsey Nouah|Monalisa Chinda|Ini Edo|Uti Nwachukwu|Alexx Ekubo|Bryan Okwara|Beverly Naya|Uru Eke}}
| music =
| cinematography =
| editing = Victor Ehi-Amedu
| studio = Emem Isong Productions
| distributor = {{unbulleted list|Royal Arts Academy|Silverbird Distributions}}
| released = {{Film date|2012|3|29}}{{cite web | url=https://thenet.ng/photos-uche-jombo-desmond-elliot-ini-edo-uti-others-attend-the-premiere-of-weekend-getaway/ | title=Movie Premiere of Weekend Getaway | date=3 April 2013 | publisher=TheNet Ng | access-date=10 April 2014}}
| runtime =
| country = Nigeria
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =₦22,895,273 (domestic gross){{cite web | url=http://www.talkingdrum-entertainment.com/top-10-films-in-nigeria-in-2013-and-the-worrying-trends/ | title=Top 10 Films in Nigeria in 2013 and the worrying trends | publisher=Talking Drum Entertainment | date=23 May 2014 | accessdate=22 December 2014}}
}}
Weekend Getaway is a 2012 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Desmond Elliot and starring Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo, Uti Nwachukwu, Alexx Ekubo, Bryan Okwara, Beverly Naya and Uru Eke. It received 11 nominations and eventually won 4 awards at the 2013 Nollywood & African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA).{{cite web | url=http://www.informationng.com/2013/07/full-list-of-nominees-for-nafca-nollywood-african-film-critics-awards-2013.html | title=NAFCA 2013 Nominees | date=July 2013 | publisher=Information Nigeria | accessdate=10 April 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://fabmagazineonline.com/fab-news-turning-point-and-weekend-getaway-win-big-at-the-african-oscars/ | title=NAFCA 2013 Winners | accessdate=10 April 2014}} It also received 2 nominations at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards with Alexx Ekubo eventually winning the award for Best Actor in a supporting role. The film was a box-office success in Nigerian cinemas generally because of its star-studded cast.{{cite web | url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/04/23/weekend-getaway-breaks-nigerian-box-office-records/ | title=Weekend Getaway breaks Nigerian Box Office Record | date=23 April 2013 | publisher=BellaNaija | accessdate=10 April 2014}}
Cast
- Genevieve Nnaji as April
- Ramsey Nouah as Dr. Mark
- Monalisa Chinda as Yolanda Okpara
- Ini Edo as Ogechi
- Uti Nwachukwu as Mahadi Bello
- Beverly Naya as Angela
- Alexx Ekubo as Andre Dikeh
- Bryan Okwara as Moses
- Uru Eke as Uduak
- Ekere Nkanga as Moses's Father
- Ime Bishop Umoh as Concierge
- Bobby Obodo as Segun Williams
- Emeka Duru as Convoy Driver
- Pat Akpabio as Nancy
Critical reception
The film was widely met with negative critical reviews. It has 20% rating on Nollywood Reinvented, which criticized its originality, story and predictability.{{cite web | url=http://www.nollywoodreinvented.com/2013/07/weekend-getaway.html | title=Weekend Getaway on Nollywood Reinvented | date=5 July 2013 | accessdate=10 April 2014}}
Wilfred Okiche of YNaija did an extensive review. He commented that while the star quality was there, they didn't have much of a script to work with. He noted also excessive product placements, poor editing, and bad acting.{{cite web | url=http://www.ynaija.com/film-review-weekend-getaway-gathers-all-the-stars-but-has-no-idea-what-to-do-with-them/ | title=Ynaija Review for Weekend Getaway | date=5 May 2013 | publisher=YNaija | accessdate=10 April 2014}}
NollywoodCritics spoke on the negative correlation of the various story lines and commented "Genevieve is a Secret agent, Ini Edo is a Maid in Manhattan, Monalisa Chinda is a Sugar mummy, Ramsey Noah is from Cinderella Story..."{{cite web | url=http://www.onobello.com/index.php/entertainment/item/4254-genevieve-nnaji-ramsey-nouah-ini-edo | title=Weekend Getaway review | accessdate=10 April 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nollywoodcritics.com/Archives_Display.aspx?Videoid=479 | title=Weekend Getaway Review | accessdate=10 April 2014}}
Efe Doghudje of 360Nobs on the other hand gave an average rating of a 6 out of 10 stars, calling the film "cute and kind of funny." The reviewer thought the acting was good in some spots but in many ways not believable. Uti's "scene with Genevieve, which was supposed to be smart, witty, sarcastic and sensual lacked such intensity of acts like Jinx and James Bond (Halle Berry and Pierce Brosnan) or Mr. & Mrs. Smith, secret service agents (spies whichever suits you) with an eye on the prize."{{cite web | url=http://www.360nobs.com/2013/09/movie-review-weekend-getaway/ | title=Movie Review Weekend Getaway | publisher=360Nobs | accessdate=10 April 2014}}