''Sugar Rush'' is a 2019 Nigerian

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

action comedy film The action comedy is a film genre that applies to action films where humor plays a much more central role. While early films feature stuntwork and humor, academic Cynthia King wrote that the genre only came into its own as a mainstay of the Americ ...

written by

Jadesola Osiberu Jádesọ́lá is a female Yoruba people The Yoruba people ( ; , , ) are a West African ethnic group who inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, which are collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million pe ...

and Bunmi Ajakaiye, and directed by

Kayode Kasum Kayode Kasum (born 2 February 1992) is a Nigerian film director and producer. He is credited with directing one of Nigeria’s highest-grossing films and the country's first live-action animated film. Early life and education Kasum was born ...

. The film stars

Adesua Etomi Tolulope Adesua Etomi-Wellington (born 22 February 1988) commonly known as Adesua Etomi is a Nigerians, Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She debuted her film career with ''Knocking on Heaven's Door (2014 film), Knocking On Heaven's Door'' ( ...

Bisola Aiyeola Bisola Aiyeola (born 21 January 1986) is a Nigerian actress, compere, singer, songwriter,TV/Radio presenter, mimic and Founder of Brown Girls Magic. She and her siblings were singlehandedly raised by her mother after her father abandoned them ...

and

Bimbo Ademoye Bimbo Ademoye (born 4 February 1991), is a Nigerian actress. She won Best Actress in a comedy TV series at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for her role in the film ''Selina''. Early life and education Born Abimbola Aisha Ademoye ...

in the lead roles. The film had its theatrical release on 25 December 2019 coinciding

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

and opened to mixed reviews from critics. Despite the mixed reviews, the film became a box office success and became the fourth highest grossing Nigerian film of all time in 202 ;, in 2024 it became Eleventh highest grossing Nigeria Film of all time

Plot

Sugar sisters accidentally discover $800,000 in the house of a corrupt man, Chief Douglas. In the next couple of days, they start to spend some of the money only to meet their Waterloo when mafithe comes to claim the stake of the money. However, the news got to the EFCC where they issued a search warrant for the Sugar sisters but weren't able to find any money. Unbeknownst to them, Andy, Sola's boyfriend, had already stolen the money. Unfortunately, as they were trying to get the money back from him, he lost his life in the process, and the money was stolen by someone else. Gina, the head of the mafia, sent her men to abduct the Sugar sisters and coerce them into stealing more money from "The White Lion", Anikulapo, a notorious man known for having most of Nigeria's assets. Who was also Gina's husband. So the Sugar sisters teamed up with some EFCC officials and successfully stole the money. Gina met them at the hideout and asked for her money, where she met the head of EFCC, who apparently admitted that she killed Chief Douglas because the money was meant to be hers. But Anikulapo caught up with them and demanded money. Things got heated, and there was a shootout. Gina lost her life in the process. Luckily the sugar sisters and EFCC officials were able to escape with the money. Unfortunately, Anikulapo caught up with them, took the money, and demanded they be executed in a fire. But thankfully they were able to escape with the help of Bola and Sola sugar. It then ended in a scene where Anikulapo found out the money was incomplete and fake. Luckily the Sugar sisters and their mother left their house and traveled out of the country.

Cast

as Bola Sugar *

as Sola Sugar * Iya Rainbow as Rhoda Sugar *

Adesua Etomi-Wellington Tolulope Adesua Etomi-Wellington (born 22 February 1988) commonly known as Adesua Etomi is a Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She debuted her film career with '' Knocking On Heaven's Door'' (2014). Since then she has starred in several film ...

as Susie Sugar * Idowu Philips as Rhoda Sugar *

Uzor Arukwe Uzor Arukwe (born August 6, 1983) is a Nigerian actor from Nkwerre, Imo State in the southeastern region of Nigeria. He is known for his works on screen and stage. He attended the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt, the capital city of ...

as Knight *

Tobi Bakre Tobi Bakre (born 1 June 1994) is a Nigerian actor, model, host, compere, and photographer. (Not to be confused with British actor Tobi Bakare). Tobi rose to fame after finishing up as a finalist in the Big Brother Naija (season 3) reality TV s ...

as Andy *

Mawuli Gavor Mawuli Gavor is a Ghanaian accountant turned actor, model, television presenter, entrepreneur, and producer. Early life Gavor was born in Ghana. He studied business and finance at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. ...

as Dan * Jide Kosoko as Chief Douglas *

Toke Makinwa Toke Makinwa (born 3 November 1984) is a Nigerian radio personality, television host, vlogger, entrepreneur, actress, author, and fashion influencer. Makinwa is known for hosting ''The Late Morning Show'' on Rhythm 93.7 FM Lagos, Rhythm 93.7 FM ...

as Gina *

Lateef Adedimeji Adetola Abdullateef Adedimeji (born 1 February 1984) is a Nigerian actor and filmmaker. He gained popularity with his first major role in Yewande Adekoya's 2013 movie titled '' Kudi Klepto'' and has acted in over 100 Nigerian movies since he b ...

as Kpala *

Omoni Oboli Omoni Oboli (born 22 April 1978) is a Nigerian actress, scriptwriter, film director, producer and digital filmmaker. She studied at the New York Film Academy and has written several screenplays, including The Figurine (2009), ''Anchor Baby (fil ...

as Mrs. Madueke *

Banky W Olubankole Wellington (born 27 March 1981), popularly known by his stage name Banky W and credited in film as Banky Wellington, is a Nigerian-American singer, rapper, actor, entrepreneur and politician. Early life Olubankole Wellington was bo ...

as Anikulapo, aka White Lion * Uchemba Williams as Obum *

D'Banj Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (born 9 June 1980), known professionally as D'banj ( ), is a Nigerians, Nigerian singer, rapper, music executive, event host and television personality. He signed with American rapper Kanye West's record label GOOD Music ...

as himself (special appearance)

Production

The principal photography of the film held for 14 days across different locations in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

Box office

The film grossed ₦40 million in the opening weekend since the Christmas release and become the fifth highest grossing Nollywood film in 2019 with ₦58.76 million. The film entered the ₦100 million club in January 2020.

Reception

Nollywood Reinvented rated the movie a 51% citing that the movie is "that new nollywood formula at its most potent: high tech gadgets plus famous celebrities plus comedy equals blockbuster". It praises the performances by Bimbo Ademoye and the directing from Kayode Kasum but concludes saying "Sugar Rush is best described as visually exciting mindless fun". In its review, Nollywood Post says "Sugar rush was able to capture its audience’s attention from the beginning. It was a good choice to start with the torture scene. One is immediately curious to find out what had led to the event and that is laudable. Not only did it start well, but the series of comedic events in the story are also quite entertaining" Nigerian Entertainment Today said "''Sugar Rush'' is not perfect but as comedy movies go, it is a more holistic package than all the other big box office comedies that have been released in the last decade. It certainly nails the acting better, nails the direction better and nails the dialogues and sub-plots better. It maintains the right visual

aesthetic Aesthetics (also spelled esthetics) is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty and taste, which in a broad sense incorporates the philosophy of art.Slater, B. H.Aesthetics ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,'' , acces ...

without being unnecessarily fluffy, which can’t be said about the other big comedy movies of the last decade."

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 2019 films 2019 action comedy films English-language Nigerian films Films shot in Lagos Nigerian crime comedy films 2019 crime comedy films Nigerian action films Nigerian supernatural films 2010s supernatural films Films about kidnapping Yoruba-language films Films set in Lagos Films about politicians 2019 crime action films Films directed by Kayode Kasum 2010s English-language films Nigerian multilingual films English-language crime comedy films English-language crime action films English-language action comedy films