Director: John Madden
Cast: Dev Patel, Maggie Smith, David Strathairn, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Diana Hardcastle, Tina Desai, Shazad Latif, Denzil Smith, Rajesh Tailang, Lillete Dubey, Tamsin Greig, Penelope Wilton, Richard Gere
Rating: B
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a charming and delightful film that entertained moviegoers in 2011, had us following a group of senior citizens to India as they settle into a decaying hotel in Rajasthan, India. The little comedy about tackling issues that come with aging was a surprise hit. So it seems only natural that director John Madden along with Fox Searchlight would team up to create a sequel we will know as The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Will the sequel also make us laugh or just wish the filmmakers had retired the idea of making another film about what goes on in a day in a life in an old age hostel?
The new story opens 8 months after the first in San Diego, California with hotel owner Sonny (Dev Patel) and his manager Muriel (Maggie Smith) attending a boardroom meeting with investor Ty (David Strathairn). The hotel entrepreneurs want to raise funds to open a second hotel in India for retirees that could ultimately lead to growing a hotel franchise all over the world. Unsure of whether investing in Sonny and Muriel’s business plan, Ty tells the pair that he will send in an undercover agent of sorts to check out their hotel. Anxious about the Exotic Marigold being put to the test, the two travel back to India to resume their lives running the hotel.
Once the storyline returns to India we get caught up on what has been keeping the other inhabitants busy. Evelyn (Judi Dench) is battling her desire to get romantically involved with Douglas (Bill Nighy) and much to her surprise is offered a position at a textile company. Madge (Celia Imrie), who confides her troubles to her driver Babul (Rajesh Tailang), is faced with a difficult choice of choosing between two distinguished Indian Suitors. Norman (Ronald Pickup) and Carol (Diana Hardcastle) deal with a committed relationship while suspecting each other of infidelity.
One day, mystery guests Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) and Lavinia Beech (Tamish Creig) check into the hotel. Convinced that Guy is the undercover spy sent by Ty, Sonny goes out of his way to please his new tenant and completely ignores Lavinia. Sonny is doing his best to impress Guy while not allowing his suspicion that Kushal (Shazad Latif), a wealthy young Indian businessman, is pursuing his finance Sunaina (Tina Desai). Complicating things further, Sonny is completely freaked out when he discovers that Guy develops a romantic interest in his mother (Lillete Dubey).
This sequel shows off the ancient and beautiful culture India is known for and makes for a great tourism promotion. There are beautiful shots of ruins, colorful markets, and wedding festivities making Rajasthan look like the postcard jewel of India. Muriel Donnelly gets some great lines that easily draw out laughter without it feeling like the filmmakers were trying to force the comedic value of the film. But at the end of the production she is given a long, drawn out monologue that is enough to put anyone to sleep. Dev Patel is amusing as the hotelier that can’t multitask, but there is a bit too much time spent on his character’s obsessive theory about his finance straying for another guy. Richard Gere, looking great at any age, is smooth and suave and adds a nice and easy touch the movie. The rest of the cast are adorable but, the many different subplots going on just to give screen time to the other actors makes the film very sluggish and crammed with plots that could have easily been eliminated to make a cleaner and smoother product.
The sequel is not nearly as good as the first installment, though despite the movie being cluttered with back stories there is still just enough entertainment value in watching all the lovable seniors continuing to deal with the trials and tribulations of getting older. Check into a theater to watch The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and enjoy a stay that will provide for a satisfying feel good experience.
