The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is about as original as its title but with a cast this talented and effortlessly charming, that hardly matters. If you loved them in the first film, you’ll love them in this one too.
Now that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with its long-term residents, co-managers Muriel (Maggie Smith) and Sonny (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) venture into the Jaipur workforce, meanwhile circling around their obvious affection for each other. Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) navigate the swirling waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two very eligible suitors, and recent arrival Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) finds a muse in Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) for his next novel. As his marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai), quickly approaches, Sonny finds his plans for the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available.
Imrie and Smith are given the opportunity to reveal some subtleties in their characters and there is a spectacular ending, when you wish that Dev Patel had been given more opportunities to dance.
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Year: 2015
Country: UK/USA
Cert: PG
Duration: 122 mins
Dir: John Madden
'Unexpected and rewarding'
Reviews
Robbie Collin finds the film 'surprisingly moving'
Brian Viner enjoys 'such a good-hearted picture'
Venue: William Loveless Hall