Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 stars"The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is first class
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017
It is rare - too rare - in this day and age to find a movie that features an entire cast of actors who are true masters of their craft.
Instead, we are too often bombarded by films that feature visually stunning special effects that mask mediocre performances and sub-par writing.
That is decidedly not the case in "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." This is a film that features a virtual all-star team of actors, an exotic (and very colorful) locale, and some very fine writing. It is a story about growing old with as much grace as possible while discovering that love is not the strict province of the young.
Because this is a sequel, there are some critics who have said this movie does not live up to the high bar set by "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I think they are wrong in doing so for this is a separate movie. True, it has virtually the same cast and takes place in the same locale, however, it is its own film with its own objectives. Its purpose is not just to carry the story forward but also to explore new themes.
For example, three of the hotel's residents have rejoined the working world while another couple struggles with the challenge of living in a monogamous relationship when conventional wisdom assumes that they are long past the age at which this question even arises. The residents must also cope with cross-cultural differences, the toll that aging takes on not only the body but also the mind, and the heightened awareness of their own mortality.
The story revolves around two main issues: The impending wedding of hotel owner Sonny (played by Dev Patel) and his fiancee (played by Tina Desai) and his efforts to buy and develop a second residence for older men and women. As part of his efforts to secure a loan for the second property, he must cope with an undercover inspector sent by the corporation that he is asking for financial backing. That leads to some unexpected - and often charming - consequences not only for Sonny but also for the other residents of the hotel and his widowed mother.
Joining the cast for this movie are Richard Gere and Tamsin Grieg. Both blend in beautifully with A-listers Judy Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and the rest of the cast that returned for this sequel. I make a point of that because it's not always easy to do so, especially given the huge success of the first film.
The cinematography is excellent, giving viewers a real sense of what it is like to live and work in modern India and the direction is sure handed. I am a writer by profession and am often overly critical of movie scripts but I must admit I had no issues with this one. The story moves along in a smooth, well-reasoned fashion and the plot - while a little convoluted - is well imagined. The dialogue is often hilarious but throughout the movie the actors are given ample opportunity to express a wide range of emotions.
For my money, this is a 5-star film and one that I will enjoy watching many times over the course of the next few years.
