Starring: Kate Henshaw, Bimbo Manuel, Detola Jones, Omawunmui Dada, Toke Makinwa, Real Warri Pikin, Eso Dike, etc.
Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes
Plot Summary
Before I begin, this movie was released in cinemas last year and is now streaming on EbonyLife Plus.
Almost Perfect is a story about a young girl whose dreams are rooted in fashion and creativity.
However, her mother, who once failed in that same industry during her younger years, refuses to let her daughter follow that path.
Instead, she pushes her toward one of the “prestigious” courses in Nigeria — medicine.
Almost Perfect Trailer
While watching this film, I could not help but connect Eme Archibong’s journey to Veekee James.
Anyone who has seen From Ajegunle to Forbes on Veekee James’ YouTube channel will understand the similarities between both stories.
Now, back to the movie. Eme Archibong leaves Calabar for Lagos to pursue her dreams, and her journey becomes one of resilience, ambition, and determination.
She fights against every possible obstacle — family pressure, workplace struggles, classism, social media criticism, and societal expectations.
Eme represents the idea that persistence can push a person beyond limitations. She refused to shrink herself for anyone and remained vocal about her talent and brand, even when confronting people she admired deeply, like Shola.
What stood out for me was her confidence. Eme knew her worth and never allowed anyone to diminish it. I also admired her support system, especially her sister, Nkoyo.
Nkoyo understood when to stay quiet, when to correct her sister, and when to step in with full support — particularly during the Diamond Fashion event. Their bond added emotional depth to the film.
Character Performance
Speaking of Nkoyo, did anyone notice she barely smiled throughout the movie?
It felt like life had forced her to mature too quickly. Unlike Eme, Nkoyo did not seem to have the freedom to chase her dreams wholeheartedly, which explains why she settled into real estate instead of pursuing her passion.
Then we have Sandy, the mother of Eme and Nkoyo. She was a refreshing character to watch — strict, determined, and deeply invested in her children’s future.
She wanted them to succeed beyond her own limitations.Still, Sandy was also extremely rigid.
Thankfully, she was married to Ukpong, a more understanding and balanced partner who prevented her from controlling every aspect of their daughters’ lives.
Without him, Eme’s success story might never have happened.
At 1 hour 45 minutes into the movie, I genuinely wondered what gave Shola the confidence to approach Sandy after everything she had done.
How do you betray both a mother and her child and still act casually afterwards?
Shola was manipulative and selfish. The industry celebrated her as an icon, yet she failed in areas that mattered most — loyalty, integrity, and motherhood.
What Didn’t Work for Me
One thing that weakened the authenticity for me was Sandy’s dialogue.
For someone repeatedly described as lacking tertiary education, her English felt too polished and advanced for the character the film tried to establish.
A stronger blend of simple English and her dialect would have made her feel more believable and grounded.
Also, I have to commend Bimbo Manuel for his Ibibio delivery. His pronunciation, tone, and intonation were excellent.
Honestly, he sounded like someone from Calabar. That level of effort deserves recognition.
Another moment that confused me was seeing Nkoyo casually taking a bottle of wine in Jesse’s apartment after previously avoiding him.
The transition between their tension and sudden comfort was not properly developed.
The same issue appeared with Shola and her daughter. They spent most of the movie disconnected and emotionally distant, then suddenly had a great mother-and-child conversation toward the ending without enough buildup or emotional progression. That final stretch of the movie felt rushed.
The emotional payoff would have been stronger if the writers had taken time to develop those reconciliations properly instead of jumping straight into resolution.
Despite its flaws, Almost Perfect delivered strong lessons about ambition, family expectations, sacrifice, and perseverance.
The film reminds viewers that dreams often require courage, especially when the people closest to you fail to understand them.