shooting locations included Lagos and some areas of Cross River. The film was one of the last films shot by Sam Loco Efe, as he died before its release; it was dedicated to him as a result. Release A preview of I'll Take My Chances was unveiled to the public on 8 May 2011. The film was premiered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on 24 September 2011. Emem Isong revealed that the decision to premiere the film in Akwa Ibom is due to the fact that the film was mostly shot there and it presents the culture of the area as a backdrop of the story; so it's "a show of solidarity with the good people of Akwa Ibom". September was also fixed for the premiere, because it is the month in which Akwa Ibom state was created. The premiere featured a short documentary on the late Sam Loco Efe who starred in the film, but died before its release. The film had its Lagos premiere on 24 February 2012, before going on a general theatrical release. The two halls used for the film screenings at the Lagos premiere was reportedly jam packed, that some people who wanted to see the film at all costs had to stand and some sat on the cinema floors. The Ushers at the event were dressed in an Akwa Ibom native outfit. The film was also screened across two cities in Italy, a non traditional market. Reception Critical reception The film received mixed to negative critical reviews. Nollywood Reinvented gave it a 37% rating, noting the directing as a major setback for the film. It commended Ini Edo's performance, citing her as the "person who held it all together", but faulted Bryan Okwara's acting skills and panned Ashleigh Clark's performance. It praised the dance sets and concluded by stating: "it[I'll Take My Chances] was a good story. It had a beginning, had an end, had a conflict. The film has a couple things that might not settle well with the viewers. But then, looking at the movie as a STORY! I was not entertained. If I seek to extract the story from the ruins of the movie, then yes it would have been a 5 out of 5, but if I look at the film as a story, which is what a film is intended to be, then it does not live up to expectations".