Marigold is entertaining in a very British sort of way - it's characters are all a little repressed and class ridden to start with but by the end have discovered something more about themselves. It has a charm to it but is let down by a flaccid script, and weak direction - and a general sense of unease that this is some sort of post-colonial wish fulfillment - so we end up with a film that wants to be both a drama and a drama comedy and by doing so lacks all bite and spice.
It is a perfect airplane movie, you can sit back and relax and enjoy it, but it really has almost nothing meaningful to say - this is not necessarily a bad thing - as a light frothy piece about retirement as an adventure it is all rather jolly - and the cast do bring verve and energy to it - it just seems to meander and wander and it would be kind to say the characters are essentially caricatures who, even with some backstory, are never more than wispy at best.
And perhaps this is the charm, Marigold is escapism, and a chance to fantasize about what life might be like. All in all, it will appeal to those who like their comedy safe and enjoy a fanciful tale well spun, but it is too lightweight to be anything other than instantly forgettable.
It is a perfect airplane movie, you can sit back and relax and enjoy it, but it really has almost nothing meaningful to say - this is not necessarily a bad thing - as a light frothy piece about retirement as an adventure it is all rather jolly - and the cast do bring verve and energy to it - it just seems to meander and wander and it would be kind to say the characters are essentially caricatures who, even with some backstory, are never more than wispy at best.
And perhaps this is the charm, Marigold is escapism, and a chance to fantasize about what life might be like. All in all, it will appeal to those who like their comedy safe and enjoy a fanciful tale well spun, but it is too lightweight to be anything other than instantly forgettable.