The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Rated PG (mild coarse language and sexual references). 122 minutes. Directed by John Madden. Screenplay by Ol Parker.
Verdict: The magic of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel refuses to fade.
When The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel became an unexpected smash hit of 2012, it was only a matter of time before a sequel would find its way onto the screen. The first film’s perfect mixture of wonderful performances from Britain’s finest actors (including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson) and its intoxicating Indian locations, ensured that audiences flocked to it.
It’s perfect blend of humour, romance, adventure, drama and quiet worldly contemplation found its way into the hearts of its audiences – and Australian audiences, in particular, loved it.
With his Best Exotic Marigold Hotel now at capacity, Sonny (Dev Patel) and Muriel (Maggie Smith) travel to America to try and secure finance to enable them to purchase another hotel to continue to build on their dream of owning a chain of Best Exotic Marigold Hotels. If the investors’ inspector approves of the new location, the funds will be provided. When a wealthy American, Guy (Richard Gere), arrives, Sonny believes him to be the inspector, and does everything he can to make sure that he will have no choice but to approve his plans for expansion.
There is no faulting the performances from the outstanding cast, most of who are reprising their roles. Patel is wonderfully entertaining as the desperately ambitious Sonny, and Maggie Smith is simply divine as Muriel. On the back of her popularity in Downtown Abbey, Smith has been enjoying a luxury of big screen opportunities recently, and she never disappoints. The camera adores her, and she
receives excellent support from the superb Dench and Nighy, both of whom play the delicate theme of finding genuine love, late in life, to absolute perfection.
This review was commissioned by the West Australian Newspaper Group.
