The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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

Dir. John Madden
Scr. Ol Parker

This is a delightful film – funny, lovely, poignant, lush, a little silly – that you should by all means take your mum or dad to see. With a cast to absolutely die for, it’s not necessarily going to set your world alight. But this film is an extremely pleasant way to spend a couple of hours with performances (especially from Dench and Nighy) and a location that are well worth the price of admission.

Each at a particularly important turning point in their elderly lives, a diverse group of over 65s find themselves and their old age “outsourced” to India. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is run by a young, enthusiastic, financially-challenged Indian man whose passion more than makes up for his lack of business sense. His dreams are many and he finds support from the most unlikely place – his guests. And his guests have troubles and dreams of their own. I won’t ruin any of their individual stories, but let’s just say everything goes on a journey of discovery in one way or another.

The other wonderful aspect of this film is India itself. Such vibrancy and colour and chaos. Although nothing and no one looks quite impoverished as you might expect. But there is charm and warmth aplenty.

At times the story might drag or stall, and the resolutions are certainly a little contrived. But I can forgive almost any minor flaws when you have such an amazing cast on offer. Patel is charming but perhaps a little annoying as the manager of the Hotel. Dench, as a recent widow looking for meaning and adventure in her life, is the centre of the group and is her usual graceful self. Smith, a cantankerous retiree in need of a new hip, is wonderful with some of the funniest dialogue at her disposal. Wilkinson, an ex-judge, has the most surprising and interesting story and shines in his role. Wilton is excellent and completely unlikeable, for a change. Imrie and Pickup are a little one-dimensional, but wonderful nonetheless. For my money, Nighy is completely the star of the show. He gives an extremely effective reigned-in performance, more subtle than his usual fare. His breakout scene with Wilton, in which he finally stands up to a domineering wife, is the highlight of the film. Simply wonderful.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will make you laugh and smile, it may even make you shed a tear. And you will feel better having seen it. I recommend for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

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Sonny: Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not the end.