Queen Lateefah Movie Review

I know I promised a review of The Farmer’s Bride, but due to a mix-up, I ended up watching *Queen Latifah*. I was sceptical at first, but did I regret watching it? You’ll find out in this Queen Lateefah Movie review.

The Experience

My husband, our toddler, and I headed to Viva Cinema at The Palms Mall in Ibadan. It’s been a while since we last visited the cinema, and wow, the ticket prices have gone up! We arrived early and, to our surprise, mixed up the schedule from their website. We had to kill time until 5:05 p.m., so we walked around the mall.

When it was finally time, we bought our tickets and decided to treat ourselves to shawarma instead of the usual popcorn (although we did get extra popcorn too). I was still a bit unsure about Queen Lateefah, but we were all set to relax and enjoy the film. Below is the Queen Lateefah Movie review.

Synopsis of Queen Lateefah

The movie follows a sharp, street-smart woman living a fake life. She’s from the slums but presents herself as a high-class Lagos socialite. Who would have thought? Outwardly, she’s polished and boujee, a prim and proper con artist. Through her deceit, she meets a rich man who falls deeply in love with her. She swears not to let herself fall in love in order to get his money. But what does she end up choosing? Love or money? And does her secret come out? You’ll have to watch Queen Lateefah to find out.

Queen Lateefah Movie Review

Storyline

The storyline is straightforward, but the ending isn’t what you’d expect. You might predict how things will go for her, but trust me, it doesn’t turn out that way. Every scene had its place, and nothing felt unnecessary. The plot was well-woven, and personally, I loved it.

Cast

Wumi Toriola as Queen Lateefah

The con artist herself. She plays a clever woman leading a life that is worlds apart from her roots in the slum. Wumi did a fantastic job in this role, and though I usually feel indifferent when the owner of the movie is the lead character, she delivered. I loved seeing her step outside her usual ‘saucy’ stereotype.

Kunle Remi as Jide Rhodes

The Nollywood sweetheart! Kunle nailed his role as Jide, an eligible bachelor from a well-to-do family, working in PR and advertising. He’s head over heels for Queen Lateefah, mesmerized by her charm and wit.

Folakemi Babatunde as Bolaji

Oh my gosh! I just discovered her, and she absolutely stole the show. She played Queen Lateefah’s loyal sidekick, almost like a sister or personal assistant. Her language and expressions were hilarious, providing great comic relief. I teared up when she was motivating Queen Lateefah during a tough time. I hope this role opens more doors for her.

Madam Saje as Queen Lateefah’s Mother

Madam Saje is a seasoned actress, and she portrayed the role of Iya Lati, a mother who disapproves of her daughter’s lifestyle but loves her unconditionally. Her facial expressions were on point, especially during the scene where she meets Mrs. Rhodes. It was both funny and heartwarming.

Elvina Ibru as  Madam Rhodes

The rich mama! She delivered her role perfectly—a wealthy widow with two accomplished children. Her style and grace were unmatched. Though she appears calm and sophisticated, she’s not someone to be fooled, especially by a con artist dating her son.

Nancy Isime as Arese

Nancy played Mr. Rhodes’ executive assistant, who is secretly in love with him. From the very first scene, you could tell from her body language and expressions. She also despises Queen Lateefah and would do anything to see her fall.

KieKie as Banke Basia

KieKie plays Queen Lateefah’s rival from the slum, though not a worthy opponent. Let’s just say she was competing with herself because Queen Lateefah is well-educated and funded by her fake lifestyle. KieKie gave a solid performance.

A shoutout to the supporting cast: Shade Rhodes (Jide’s classy sister), Lateef (the Instagram celebrity struggling with rent), Femi Adebayo (the car-supplying mechanic), Brodda Shaggi (the mechanic’s apprentice who has a crush on Queen Lateefah), and Fathia Balogun (the tough landlady). Everyone brought their A-game.

Costume

The costume design was spot-on. Every outfit matched the character perfectly, with intentional choices that helped define their roles.

Props and Location

The set designs were well-executed, from the slum to the luxurious mansion. Every location felt authentic, and the office scenes were well done. Iya Lati’s humble room was particularly memorable, the items,  the generator etc.

Music

Writing this Queen Lateefah Movie Review has made me realise I didn’t pay much attention to the soundtrack, which is unusual for me. I guess it didn’t stand out.


Language

The code-switching between languages was great. Each character used the right language for their setting, and Bolaji’s accent was absolutely hilarious.

Life Lesson From Queen Lateefah

Throughout the movie, I kept thinking: Queen Lateefah is so smart, why not use her intelligence to improve her real life? The energy she invested in living a lie could have been used to create something genuine. It’s a reminder that no matter how much effort you put into lying, the truth will always come out. Be yourself.

Final Verdict and Call to Action

This movie is definitely worth watching! Wumi Toriola’s cinema debut was nothing short of amazing. Go check it out!

Read my previous post BIRTHDAY GIST