You know how December has this strange way of making you reflect on everything: your job, your love life (or lack of it), your bank account, your family constantly reminding you you’re not doing enough? Yeah. Christmas Between Worlds, produced by Omoni Oboli and showing on Omoni Oboli TV, dives right into that real Lagos-in-December chaos, but with a sprinkle of magic.
It’s romantic, it’s mushy, and it has that feel-good energy of a holiday film. This isn’t snowflakes and sleigh bells; it’s tech bros, entitled exes, nagging village relatives, and a very tired 26-year-old named Emeka whose only birthday wish is for something, anything, to finally go right.
Now, let’s get into how one weird night, one wish, and one encounter with Father Christmas turn Emeka’s world completely upside down.
Plot
Emeka, a typical overworked tech guy in Lagos, is already mentally checked out. His birthday is around the corner, but there’s absolutely nothing to celebrate. His car is falling apart, his office is a circus, and to top it off, his girlfriend storms into his workplace, throws a tantrum, drags him for filth in front of his colleagues, and dumps him right there. Total mess.
And then there’s family; the type that only calls when they need money for one village function or another, constantly guilt-tripping him for not visiting or “forgetting his roots”. Emotionally, financially, and physically, Emeka is drained.
Fast forward to the day he was driving down his street; he meets an old man dressed as Santa/Father Christmas whose own car is acting up. Emeka helps him out (grudgingly), ranting about how useless birthdays are and how nothing ever goes his way. The Santa-looking man, cryptic and calm, simply says, “Make a wish.” Emeka scoffs but mutters a half-hearted wish for a better life. Santa says, “Sleep well tonight,” and drives off.
Weird. But whatever. Next morning? BOOM!
Emeka wakes up in an entirely different house, fully furnished and aesthetically Pinterest-worthy. A new iPhone. Designer clothes. He’s panicking. Tries to open the phone beside him, but the password doesn’t even ring a bell. He stumbles downstairs and finds his sister and friends screaming, “SURPRISE! ”; birthday cake, decorations, everything.
His parents? Relaxing abroad. His colleagues? Suddenly love him. His family? Proud and peaceful. Everyone’s talking like he’s the golden child who funds them all. It’s giving parallel universe vibes. He’s not dreaming; this life is somehow “his”.
Still confused, he decides to buy medication to stop the “hallucinations” and ends up at a pharmacy; enter Kamsi. Soft, beautiful, and kind, she’s the pharmacist who listens to his rant and gently suggests they go out for suya to cool his head.
One outing turns into two… then three… And suddenly, Emeka is catching real feelings. Kamsi opens up too; revealing she’s the child of rape, raised by a cold, emotionally distant mother who has never seen her as worthy. Emeka encourages her to confront her mother, to demand the love she deserves. She does, and for the first time, her mother apologises. That moment of healing deepens their bond.
Back at home, Emeka’s sister is engaged, the wedding is coming, and life just keeps getting better. One peaceful night, Kamsi calls to say she had a beautiful bonding day with her mom. Emeka, lying in bed, tells her he loves her… and dozes off with a smile.
Then reality hits.
He wakes up in his old room. The broken room. The car’s still faulty. The office is still chaotic. All of it was gone. Just like that.
Shaken, he stares at the clock all day, counting down to 5 PM. He takes the same route home, desperate for a sign. And then, like clockwork, he sees Kamsi. This time, her car broke down. They lock eyes. It’s her. It’s really her. They talk. They exchange numbers.
And as he drives away, the same Father Christmas passes by in a car, winks at him, and drives off.
Just like magic. Or maybe destiny.
Cast
Let’s start with the man of the moment, Emeka, played by Michael Dappa. Let’s just say he understood the assignment. For a storyline that was clearly dipped in fantasy and wishful thinking, Michael grounded it with acting that felt painfully real. His grumpy, tired-of-life energy at the beginning? So relatable it almost felt like a documentary. And then, the way he gradually adjusted to his “new life”? Seamless. From confusion to cautious joy; the transitions were believable, even when the plot wasn’t.
Then there’s Kamsi, played by Omechi Oko. Soft, sweet, effortlessly believable. Her calm presence balanced Emeka’s chaos so well. And the chemistry between both of them? Like Christmas jollof and chilled Chapman – perfect pairing. You could feel the tension, the slow burn, the awkward smiles turning into real affection. Their scenes together had heart.
The supporting cast, Abigail Timothy, Perpetual Nwadike, Bola Edward and others held their own, adding moments of lightness and warmth. The casting overall felt intentional and well-aligned with the emotional beats of the story.
Language
The film is primarily in English but flows naturally with a blend of Pidgin and the kind of everyday Nigerian expressions that make the dialogue feel alive. It didn’t feel forced or overly polished, just authentic.
Final take
Now, let’s be real, Christmas Between Worlds is not a movie you watch for realism. Nigeria’s economy alone would not allow this kind of overnight fairytale life switch. But guess what? It’s Christmas. Logic can rest.
Omoni Oboli took a big bite out of the Hollywood fantasy playbook, and it worked. We’ve seen this kind of high-concept wish-fulfilment plot a million times in Christmas rom-coms abroad. But doing it here, in our own context, with our own lingo and faces? A very good attempt.
The production was clean, with great aesthetics, good ambience, simple but thoughtful costuming, and there was a clear effort in storytelling. It even had emotional depth: layered backstories, personal growth, healing, family, and love. You don’t expect all that in a YouTube rom-com, but here we are.
In the end, the film is a feel-good ride, light-hearted but with enough heart to linger. Mushy? Yes. Unrealistic? Definitely. Enjoyable? Absolutely.
