THE ROOKIE (Edem Victor)
Stars: Modola Osifuwa, Miriam Peters, Imoh Eboh Theme: Office Etiquette, Grammar Humility, and “The Rookie” Syndrome
The Setup: The Battle of Time and Tenses
The film starts with a classic office conflict: the orientation delay. We are introduced to Vanessa (Modola Osifuwa), the new employee who arrives exactly at 9:52 AM for a 10:00 AM meeting [00:19]. What follows is a brilliant linguistic showdown between Vanessa and her fellow new hire, Patrick.
The comedy is sparked by the difference between being “on time” and “in time.” [01:00]. Vanessa, a proud UNILAG English graduate, isn’t just there to work; she’s there to “obligue” the uneducated. Watching her dismantle Patrick’s primary school grammar is both cringe-inducing and hilariously relatable for anyone who has ever met a “perfectionist” at work.
The HR Wahala: Esther vs. Vanessa
The real friction begins when the Head of HR, Miss Esther (Imoh Eboh), enters the scene. Usually, HR is the one giving corrections, but in “The Rookie,” the tables are turned. Vanessa corrects Esther’s pronunciation of “Row” (RA) [04:47] and her use of “Severally” [08:12].
The technical irony here is that Vanessa is actually right. In Nigerian English, “severally” is often used to mean “many times,” but as Vanessa points out, it actually means “individually or separately.” This educational layer wrapped in comedy is Edem Victor’s signature style. It makes the audience laugh at the absurdity of a rookie correcting their boss while secretly checking their own dictionary to see if they’ve been using the word wrong their whole life.
The Boss Move: Mirroring the Madness
The film takes a fantastic turn when the new employees finally meet the General Manager, Mo Peters (Miriam Peters). Just when we think Vanessa is about to get fired for her “annoying” corrections, we discover that the GM is exactly like her [11:34].
The scene where the GM corrects the pronunciation of “Google” vs. “Goggles” [12:12] and “Diffuser” [14:46] is a masterclass in comedic timing. It turns the “annoying rookie” into the “boss’s favorite.” The dynamic shifts from Vanessa being a nuisance to her being the GM’s protégé in the war against “poor use of English in Nigeria” [13:19].
The Comedy of “Nigerianisms”
Edem Victor does a great job of satirizing unique Nigerian expressions like “Next tomorrow” (The day after tomorrow) and the misspelling of “Your” vs. “You’re” in group chats [09:57]. The film highlights the professional cost of these “small” errors. It argues that a business owner who can’t pronounce their own goods (like “diffuser”) lacks professionalism [14:19].
Final Verdict
“THE ROOKIE” is a 10/10 short film for anyone who appreciates sharp writing. It’s not just slapstick; it’s a smart comedy that educates. Modola Osifuwa’s “know-it-all” expressions are perfect, and Miriam Peters’ transition into a “Grammar Queen” boss is the cherry on top.
