“Suky” is a Hollywood formulaic soap-opera melodrama plunging into the world of underground martial arts and kickboxing tournaments for which Jean-Claude Van Damme was known and became a household name.
Plot
The movie revolves around themes of defying the odds, vengeance, redemption and freedom, all staples of the genre. “Suky” heavily borrows from this genre. But without the usual charismatic presence and compelling personality of the protagonist at the centre and a lopsided narration—something this kind of movie is not known for—”Suky” is uncharming and tedious.
Story
Adigun (Tobi Bakare) is a professional boxer and trainer who lives with his son, Sunkanmi (Suky). After skipping school, Suky discovers a disturbing truth about his father: his father is participating in fixed matches in which he deliberately loses in bouts controlled by a notorious gang called Aje. When Adigun refuses to play along, out of shame in the presence of his son, he faces tragic consequences. He’s ambushed and killed by Sledgehammer, an infamous enforcer and member of the Aje gang. But we know little about this gang.
Twelve years later, the Aje gang gruesomely murder Suky’s uncle, a lawyer (Williams Benson), and his wife, with whom he’s been living since his father’s death. And Suky is then framed for their murder and sent to prison, where he has to fight in the underground fights of Dambe in order to survive and earn his freedom. There, he’s trained and mentored by an experienced and aged Dambe fighter named Ijaya, who trains the hero to fight through a series of traditional old-school standoffs and montages, preparing him for the challenges that lie ahead.
“Suky,” written by Issac Ayodeji, suffers from a narratively incongruous structure. Any attempt to engage with the plot only highlights its flaws, with a stripped-down storyline that leaves much to be desired. The movie fails to compensate for its narrative shortcomings through its fight scenes, which also comes off as performative and torpid. Without a tangible sense of stakes, these sequences feel stale and uninspired, further diminishing the film’s impact.
Performances
The characters in the movie are underdeveloped, existing mainly as afterthoughts rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. The hollowness of these characters makes it difficult for us to emotionally connect with them. The role of Nurse Simisola, played by Bimbo Ademoye, is meant to elicit sympathy as she suffers in captivity at the hands of the prison warden, Marshal, but we can’t sympathise with her predicament due to the character’s lack of depth. This lack of character development hampers the performances of the characters themselves, who are given little material to work with. But Olarotimi Fakunle’s role as Marshal is the rare highlight in this movie. Despite being similarly undeveloped, he played the role of Marshal with relish; he delivers his performance with gusto, offering a glimpse of what the film could have achieved with more compelling characters.
Technical Aspects
Ola Cardoso, renowned for his unique and distinctive cinematographic style, delivers a visually dazzling and aesthetically pleasing experience in this film. However, while his cinematography shines, the direction leaves certain aspects to be desired on the other hand.
Final Thoughts
James Damilare Solomon, in the role of Suky, lacks the charisma and gravitas required for this role. His performance is mainly to hold a stoic expression, showcase his physique, and fight. He fails to have the commanding star power and presence that the character demands. In this regard, I think Tobi Bakare would have been a better choice for bringing a compelling presence to the role, something we’ve seen him do before.
Verdict
“Suky” ultimately offers an incoherent narration of cheap thrills rather than meaningful character development, compelling action sequences and a cohesive plot. Despite Ola Cardoso’s visually striking cinematography, it’s unable to lift the movie from its shortcomings.
Rating: 5/10
