Review of Hotel Labamba (2023), on Prime Video

Synopsis: Hidden in plain sight and known by only those who want exclusivity, stands Hotel Labamba. Currently lodged in the hotel are Sexy Ella (a popular Instagram influencer) and her rich boo, loud-mouthed Big Berry, whom she met online and who just flew in from North Cyprus .

Posh and suave Halil Omar, who is in town to seal a deal and has his friends visiting, and Pearl who is on a clandestine meeting with her husband’s best friend are also lodged in the hotel. Not left out are the hotel staff with their different quirks and idiosyncrasies. Someone winds up dead and everyone in the hotel is a suspect. Will the killer be caught in three days? And can the death really be kept under wraps? Who is the killer in Hotel Labamba? 

The Cast 

• Onyekachi ‘Kachi’ Nnochiri – Daniel
• Pierce Chibueze Mgboke – Other Detective
• Arielyn Bassek – Real Halil
• Idowu ‘Yemolee’ Adeyemi – Scodi
• Attah ‘Sir Dee’ Daniel – Halil
• Tracey George
• Karen Spikes – Efe
• Tomiwa ‘Sage’ Kukoyi – Lummy
• Bimbo Ademoye – Detective Zizi
• Chibuzor Iheukwumere – Waiter
• Lilian Afegbai  – Ella
• Chris Iheuwa – Chief
• Michael Ejoor – Bar Man
• Blessing Jessica Obasi-Nze  – Detective Ofure
• Okey Jude – Manager Etim
• Etinosa Idemudia – Carol
• Lateef Adedimeji – Big Berry
• Femi Adebayo – SIU Head Detective
• Bolaji Ogunmola – Pearl

The Crew

• Produced by: Laide Daramola
• Directed by: Biodun Stephen
• Written by: Frances Okeke

The Review

The first few minutes of Hotel Labamba makes you wonder what kind of slapstick comedy this movie is, but you stay watching and then the movie eventually opens to the investigative side, still funny, but methodical. It is a crime comedy, and while it is not the best, it is still a good watch. It provides some laugh. Sometimes, the comedy is overstretched, but you still get a fair story.

Most of the actors overact in this movie; they must believe that they need to be over the top for the comedy to come through. Blessing Jessica Obasi-Nze’s comedic role is a stark contrast to Bimbo Ademoye’s completely cool, almost icy exterior in this movie. The comedy is mostly forced, but still elicits some chuckles.

The investigative part of the movie has more merit than the comedic part. The investigation is methodical, and focused, and while the ending is not a complete surprise, the process to resolve the conflict in the movie is okay.

The production incorporates quite a few unnecessary characters whose roles add nothing to the movie. It feels like someone is doing them a favour to feature in the movie.

We are at the end of the movie before we see any major background story to any of the characters, and that prolongs the movie, leaving too many loose ends and making it tedious to follow.

While the movie does not have a repeat watch value, it is okay as a one time watch, alone or with friends. 

NollyRated Score for Hotel Labamba

Score: 3/5 (Okay Movie)

NollyRated uses a 5-level scoring system, as follows:

1. Poor
2. Sub Par
3. Okay
4. Great
5. Outstanding

Join Our Tribe on Twitter: For updates on new Nollywood and Hollywood movies, reviews, cinema reviews, and Nigerian and American movie personalities, join our tribe on Twitter @NollyRated.