The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
(B or 3/4 stars)
Enticed by advertisements and lured with the thought of spending their retirements in decadence & comfort, 7 senior citizens travel arduously from England to Mumbai, India to live in 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' (directed by John Madden, Shakespeare in Love). Main character Evelyn (Judi Dench), a recent widow, has never been much of a traveler but, after 40 yrs. of marriage, decides that the change is necessary. Graham (Tom Wilkinson) yearns to return to India, where he lived as a young man. Douglas & Jean (Billy Nighy, Penelope Wilton) are forced to find an inexpensive place to live after they lose their savings.
Norman (Ronald Pickup) is looking for love, or at least a little sex, to spice up his declining years. Madge (Celia Imre, of Calendar Girls) is an aging vixen (really, the male version of Norman) who's hoping to find a man with $$. Finally, there's Muriel (Maggie Smith), an embittered bigot who is in India for a tricky hip replacement surgery - they can do it cheaper & quicker there than if she waited for it back in England. Back in England, the seniors read brochures which described said hotel as a "luxury development where all the residents are in their Golden Years". One character comments, "it's like Florida, but with more elephants." But what they find when they arrive is a dilapidated establishment that wasn't promised in the brochures. Though challenged, they all decide to stick it out.
The hotel is run by Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel), an enthusiast who has lofty views of what the rundown estate can become. His mother is less enthused about the hotel's earning power and, while nabbing these senior guests is a huge deal, she investigates how much $$ can be made by selling the property. The film works best when it focuses on the low-stakes personal journeys of its characters because the actors know how to impart a gravitas that it doesn't otherwise know how to earn.
The most substantive role belongs to the luminous Judi Dench; Evelyn's blogs about living in India become the film's voiceover narration. She & newfound friend Douglas (Nighy) bond; spending lots of time exploring while his wife Jean, uncomfortable in her new surroundings, hides out in the hotel. Hence, Douglas & Jean's marriage begins to crumble. Norman & Madge frequent upscale clubs for potential mates. Muriel is transformed from an angry old hag into a caring, open-minded lady (though, the transition doesn't feel believable - more on that later). But Graham is probably the most affecting character; a quiet, reflective man who has returned to India after 40 yrs. to resolve a burdened secret. His character arc unfolds in a subtle way and, an entire film could have been devoted to him.
'The Best Exotic ... Hotel' is one of those nice, inoffensive British movies that don't feel particularly edgy or even authentic. The character arcs satisfy the needs of the plot, not because they make much sense (in the real world). Or, rather, the character arcs that ARE believable are concluded with too much ease. Quick fixes, I call them. There are happy endings ... and quick fixes brought us to them. But I won't get too negative. I love the actors involved. They deliver as well as expected. My theater (full of seniors) enjoyed the humor. Their laughter made me laugh more than I may have otherwise. On the whole, 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' is a competently made, comfortable, & predictable dramedy about rebirth at an old age. And the wonderful actors make up for its less-than-stellar script.
Norman (Ronald Pickup) is looking for love, or at least a little sex, to spice up his declining years. Madge (Celia Imre, of Calendar Girls) is an aging vixen (really, the male version of Norman) who's hoping to find a man with $$. Finally, there's Muriel (Maggie Smith), an embittered bigot who is in India for a tricky hip replacement surgery - they can do it cheaper & quicker there than if she waited for it back in England. Back in England, the seniors read brochures which described said hotel as a "luxury development where all the residents are in their Golden Years". One character comments, "it's like Florida, but with more elephants." But what they find when they arrive is a dilapidated establishment that wasn't promised in the brochures. Though challenged, they all decide to stick it out.
The hotel is run by Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel), an enthusiast who has lofty views of what the rundown estate can become. His mother is less enthused about the hotel's earning power and, while nabbing these senior guests is a huge deal, she investigates how much $$ can be made by selling the property. The film works best when it focuses on the low-stakes personal journeys of its characters because the actors know how to impart a gravitas that it doesn't otherwise know how to earn.
The most substantive role belongs to the luminous Judi Dench; Evelyn's blogs about living in India become the film's voiceover narration. She & newfound friend Douglas (Nighy) bond; spending lots of time exploring while his wife Jean, uncomfortable in her new surroundings, hides out in the hotel. Hence, Douglas & Jean's marriage begins to crumble. Norman & Madge frequent upscale clubs for potential mates. Muriel is transformed from an angry old hag into a caring, open-minded lady (though, the transition doesn't feel believable - more on that later). But Graham is probably the most affecting character; a quiet, reflective man who has returned to India after 40 yrs. to resolve a burdened secret. His character arc unfolds in a subtle way and, an entire film could have been devoted to him.
'The Best Exotic ... Hotel' is one of those nice, inoffensive British movies that don't feel particularly edgy or even authentic. The character arcs satisfy the needs of the plot, not because they make much sense (in the real world). Or, rather, the character arcs that ARE believable are concluded with too much ease. Quick fixes, I call them. There are happy endings ... and quick fixes brought us to them. But I won't get too negative. I love the actors involved. They deliver as well as expected. My theater (full of seniors) enjoyed the humor. Their laughter made me laugh more than I may have otherwise. On the whole, 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' is a competently made, comfortable, & predictable dramedy about rebirth at an old age. And the wonderful actors make up for its less-than-stellar script.