Where do Britain's finest actors go when they retire? The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur, India, apparently. A who's who of mature British talent, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" could be considered a more British "Love, Actually" or " Valentine's Day" for seniors, minus the sinister commercial intent.
The film follows several British retirees who read of the restored titular hotel in India and for various reasons determine to vacation there. The place turns out to be in dire need of renovations, but its charismatic manager, Sonny (Dev Patel), charms them into staying, not that they have much choice in the middle of India.
The main character is Evelyn (Judi Dench), a recent widow who has sold her home to pay off her debt. She narrates the film, but her story doesn't necessarily get more attention than any other. Along with her is Graham (Tom Wilkinson), a respected judge who used to live in India as a boy, Muriel (Maggie Smith), a rather racist retired housekeeper in need a speedy and inexpensive hip replacement, Doug (Bill Nighy) and Jean (Penelope Wilton), a couple in need of affordable retirement, Madge (Celia Imrie), who seeks love in her later years and Norman (Ronald Pickup), a Lothario who just won't quit.
Naturally, the trip becomes life-changing for all of them, changing their perspectives and notions about life even after all these years living a certain way. Even Sonny has his own subplot involving his girlfriend Sunaina (Tena Desae), of whom his mother does not approve.
Based on the Deborah Moggach novel "These Foolish Things," Ol Parker's script is a pretty straightforward setup with an obvious payoff. It's only a question of which of the hotel guests will fall for each other. All of the other twists come drenched in predictability.
There's only one way for a film to overcome such severe formula, and that's with loads of talent capable of of convincing us to care about it. Like a group of British all-stars, perhaps ...
Each actor brings such gravitas to the film and vulnerability to his or her character that you feel for and sympathize with all of them to some extent and take interest in all the interweaving plots turning out as formula says they will. Even though the film is a two-hour juggling act, there's a lot of truth to what "the formula" has to say, even if you feel like you've heard it before. The fact that these are senior actors provides not only a change of pace for the ensemble romantic comedy, but also their wealth of life experience helps subvert the clichés. Even if each actor can't relate to personally to the part, he or she probably knows someone that could literally connect with or understand their character.
Dench is a particular standout as a character dealing with loss. She doesn't let it consume her character and seep into her acting choices, but plays Eveyln as someone strong-willed yet ultimately still vulnerable. The dame never disappoints. Smith also stands out as she plays a despicable character whose change of heart is convincing enough that you manage to like Muriel in the end — a lot. And considering this cast of acting giants, Patel never gets overshadowed and reinforces why he deserves to be considered as more than "the kid from 'Slumdog Millionaire.'"
John Madden is also quite the veteran, and he brings that extra sensitivity. "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" doesn't slip into some comedy with old-people jokes despite the number of opportunities the script allows for him to do so. Unfortunately, the film is never really all that funny, just funny in that cute "look at those seniors" sort of way. Why films like these can't just omit the geriatric humor altogether is a bit dumbfounding, but with the target audience being seniors, perhaps it helps them relate more to the film.
It goes without saying that "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" should be required viewing for anyone over 65, but it has some valuable things to say to a younger crowd as well, even if the delivery method has been done to death in other forms.
~Steven C
Thanks for reading! Visit moviemusereviews.com
The film follows several British retirees who read of the restored titular hotel in India and for various reasons determine to vacation there. The place turns out to be in dire need of renovations, but its charismatic manager, Sonny (Dev Patel), charms them into staying, not that they have much choice in the middle of India.
The main character is Evelyn (Judi Dench), a recent widow who has sold her home to pay off her debt. She narrates the film, but her story doesn't necessarily get more attention than any other. Along with her is Graham (Tom Wilkinson), a respected judge who used to live in India as a boy, Muriel (Maggie Smith), a rather racist retired housekeeper in need a speedy and inexpensive hip replacement, Doug (Bill Nighy) and Jean (Penelope Wilton), a couple in need of affordable retirement, Madge (Celia Imrie), who seeks love in her later years and Norman (Ronald Pickup), a Lothario who just won't quit.
Naturally, the trip becomes life-changing for all of them, changing their perspectives and notions about life even after all these years living a certain way. Even Sonny has his own subplot involving his girlfriend Sunaina (Tena Desae), of whom his mother does not approve.
Based on the Deborah Moggach novel "These Foolish Things," Ol Parker's script is a pretty straightforward setup with an obvious payoff. It's only a question of which of the hotel guests will fall for each other. All of the other twists come drenched in predictability.
There's only one way for a film to overcome such severe formula, and that's with loads of talent capable of of convincing us to care about it. Like a group of British all-stars, perhaps ...
Each actor brings such gravitas to the film and vulnerability to his or her character that you feel for and sympathize with all of them to some extent and take interest in all the interweaving plots turning out as formula says they will. Even though the film is a two-hour juggling act, there's a lot of truth to what "the formula" has to say, even if you feel like you've heard it before. The fact that these are senior actors provides not only a change of pace for the ensemble romantic comedy, but also their wealth of life experience helps subvert the clichés. Even if each actor can't relate to personally to the part, he or she probably knows someone that could literally connect with or understand their character.
Dench is a particular standout as a character dealing with loss. She doesn't let it consume her character and seep into her acting choices, but plays Eveyln as someone strong-willed yet ultimately still vulnerable. The dame never disappoints. Smith also stands out as she plays a despicable character whose change of heart is convincing enough that you manage to like Muriel in the end — a lot. And considering this cast of acting giants, Patel never gets overshadowed and reinforces why he deserves to be considered as more than "the kid from 'Slumdog Millionaire.'"
John Madden is also quite the veteran, and he brings that extra sensitivity. "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" doesn't slip into some comedy with old-people jokes despite the number of opportunities the script allows for him to do so. Unfortunately, the film is never really all that funny, just funny in that cute "look at those seniors" sort of way. Why films like these can't just omit the geriatric humor altogether is a bit dumbfounding, but with the target audience being seniors, perhaps it helps them relate more to the film.
It goes without saying that "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" should be required viewing for anyone over 65, but it has some valuable things to say to a younger crowd as well, even if the delivery method has been done to death in other forms.
~Steven C
Thanks for reading! Visit moviemusereviews.com