Film Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) 

starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, and Dev Patel

Watch the trailer for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
(source: BlockbusterUK)

Synopsis

For a desperate group of English pensioners (Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie and Ronald Pickup), retirement takes an unconventional turn when they abandon their homeland, enticed by advertisements for THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, a seemingly luxurious sanctuary for "the elderly and beautiful" in Jaipur, India. On arrival, they discover that the hotel falls somewhat short of the romantic idyll promised in the brochure, but they are gradually won over by the ever-optimistic young manager Sonny (Dev Patel), and tentatively embark on a new adventure, finding that life can begin again when you let go of the past.

I saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel recently and it was pretty good. At least I thought it was as I'd enjoyed watching it...me and my mother did, actually.

Great ensemble cast with Britain's finest and very talented vets such as familiar faces Judi Dench (as Evelyn), Maggie Smith (as Muriel), Penelope Wilton (as Jean), Bill Nighy (as Douglas), Tom Wilkinson (as Graham), Celia Imrie (as Madge), and up and comer Dev Patel (from Slumdog Millionaire...as Sonny).

Based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach (screen writer of Joe Wright's first feature film, Pride & Prejudice), this film version was about these group of British retirees, who traveled to India to take up residence in what they believed was a newly restored hotel. Only to find out it was actually less luxurious than its advertisements...talk about false advertising, lol. The retirees eventually settled in and as the film progressed, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways. Very interesting premise and storyline. 

There were a couple funny and memorable lines from the film that stayed with me long after the film ended...
"If I cannot pronounced it. I don't want to eat it." (as said by Maggie Smith's character Muriel...LOL!) and "Everything will be alright at the end. If it's not alright, then it's not the end." (as said by Dev Patel's character Sonny) So true! Love both lines, lol.

Overall, I thought The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a very good movie. It had a wonderful, moving story, with some humor, and a great acting from an equally great ensemble cast of veteran actors from the UK. Mostly older people will enjoy watching this movie, but even younger people (like myself) will too. The prominent cast alone was worth watching. I recommend you see it, if you haven't yet. Go see it!

My The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel film rating: (8.5/10; B+)