Film review: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
If you haven't seen 2011's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, you'll be confused by this follow-up about British retirees who find adventure living in a hotel in India; still, you should enjoy the middlebrow humour, shenanigans and Indian locations
Starring: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Richard Gere
Director: John Madden
Category: IIA
This genteel effort plays like a television sequel to 2011 surprise hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Director John Madden offers no introduction to the many characters, and no back story, so those who haven't seen the original will find it confusing. But fans will enjoy a similar hotchpotch of middlebrow humour, platitudes, shenanigans, and vaguely exotic Indian locations.
The titular hotel is an institution in Jaipur, which serves as a de facto retirement home for ageing Brits seeking a cheap way to retire, or looking for a bit of adventure in later life. The venerable cast includes Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup and Penelope Wilton, all of whom seem to be having fun in their roles.
The second instalment's slim storyline revolves around the efforts of hotel owner Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) to buy new premises to expand the now fully booked hotel. But the story is just an excuse for some light-hearted romantic adventures.