Name: Glamour Girls
Genre: Drama
Released: 2022-06-24T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Nse Ikpe-Etim, Ibrahim Jammal, Sharon Ooja, Toke Makinwa, Segilola Ogidan

The opening shot of Glamour Girls (2022) lingers on a sequined dress, the camera panning up to reveal Nse Ikpe-Etim as Emma, a stripper turned luxury escort. It’s a moment that promises intrigue and glamour, but director Bunmi Ajakaiye’s follow-up never delivers.

What it is: A drama about a group of women working as luxury escorts in Lagos, whose lives unravel after a murder and robbery. The film stars Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sharon Ooja, Joselyn Dumas, Toke Makinwa, and Segilola Ogidan.

The performances are the sole highlight here. Ikpe-Etim brings gravitas to Emma, her eyes often betraying the quiet desperation beneath the glamorous exterior. Sharon Ooja, as another escort, delivers a scene-stealer with a monologue about love and survival that cuts through the film’s otherwise hollow dialogue.

But the script is a mess of clichés and contrivances. The murder plotline feels tacked on, a desperate attempt to inject tension into what is essentially a character-driven drama. The pacing is erratic, with scenes dragging on without purpose or resolution. Ajakaiye’s direction lacks a distinct visual style, settling for generic close-ups and establishing shots that do little to enhance the story.

The film’s attempt at social commentary—exploring themes of reinvention and survival—is undermined by its shallow execution. The women’s motivations are often unclear, their actions dictated by plot rather than character. A scene where Emma confronts her past could have been a powerful moment of introspection, but it’s rushed through, robbed of any emotional weight.

Glamour Girls is a missed opportunity. It has the makings of a compelling drama about women navigating a man’s world, but it’s let down by poor storytelling and direction.