The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
Certified: 12
Duration: 124 minutes
Directed by: John Madden
Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie, Dev Patel, Diana Hardcastle
KRS release

A star-studded cast of Britain’s Who’s Who populates The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that sees the Brits looking away from Spain and Italy to India as their desired place of retirement.

The film’s script benefits from these seasoned actors who bring a wide range of emotional resonance to the dialogue and situations.

From the start we are provided with a montage where seven elderly characters are introduced.

There’s married couple Douglas and Jean (Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton) who have lost all their earnings in their daughter’s investment.

Then there is recently-widowed Evelyn (Judi Dench) who discovered her husband has squandered their savings and must now sell her London flat.

Meanwhile, Madge (Celia Imrie) and Norman (Ronald Pickup) want to find love again; ex-judge Graham (Tom Wilkinson) is simply looking for a change; and the xenophobic Muriel (Maggie Smith) finds that the Indian health system is offering her better options than good old England.

This bunch ends up in Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur.

This building had once been a state-of-the-art palace that has seen better times.

Its owner, Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) is marketing the place as a retirement residence.

For a film populated by cast of mostly over-50s, this film is quite pacy in tempo.

We get to know the characters immediately and we sympathise with them in the bat of an eyelid.

While some of the storylines are somewhat predictable, this does not detract from the enjoyment of following their footsteps.

Each character is given the chance to spew some lines that are worth remembering and it’s in this manner that we get to feel their emotions.

John Madden shows off his all around capabilities as a director who is not pegged to any genre.

He depicts an India that resembles the character of Sonny Kapoor; one who sells one thing while delivering something which is quite different all while simultaneously worming itself into your heart.

Tears are guaranteed with this film so keep your handkerchiefs handy.

However, laughter is also in the mix and, bearing in mind the average age of the cast, the film will leave its audience with much hope for the future, whatever the age.