The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

If there ever was such a likeable, watchable, enthralling, witty, hilarious and heartbreaking film, it's this one. Who knew a group of people in their golden years moving to India would make for such a fun and moving film. It's a story about rediscovery. Rediscovering one's self, rediscovering life and rediscovering happiness. Making the most out of what you have left, embracing a new and foreign lifestyle and just tackling new obstacles that are thrown your way. The sheer resonating force the the plot is filled with is exceedingly joyous and is sure to make you smile with glee. Evoking a variety of emotions from happiness to sorrow. It's a whirlwind, both in its narrative and themes. With more than eight lively characters to fuel the story, you would imagine balancing their screen time to be quite the challenge. Alas, screenwriter Ol Parker and director John Madden utilise their experience to overcome this obstacle, and with vibrancy. I mean the script contains British wit that makes the film ever so charming. A racist Dame Maggie Smith, a gay Tom Wilkinson, a grieving Judi Dench and a promiscuous Ronald Pickup are just a few enigmatic characters that stay in the hotel. Perhaps trying too hard to cater for a wide variety of character types. Some characters are more developed than others, and certain elements in the plot are rushed because of this, however it's well balanced overall. Then injecting the urban Indian culture into the mix with a seasoning of love, and we have ourselves an international hit. The recipe works and clearly the results show. Everyone gave excellent performances that provided much needed emotion. The beauty of such talent on and off screen means that it is accessible by all ages. Every type of audience can appreciate and be engaged with what is being shown. Some may consider this to be too "fluffy", but come on...sometimes we just need a nice film to cheer us up!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a wonderful, amusing and heart warming film. It's good to see a film where the majority of the cast are over 30, and the older people aren't just there as part of the scenery.This film is the reason I plan to spend my twilight years in India. The scenery in the film is breathtaking and it's great seeing the characters gradually warm to their new surroundings.I love how the characters all band together to make their new home more pleasant.Maggie Smith is on top form as usual and I particularly liked seeing Ronald Pickup in this film, having seen him in Waiting for Godot shortly before this film was released.

This movie points out the plot early. An elderly woman in the UK needs a hip replacement. If she stays in the UK, she has to wait 6 months to even start the process plus it is expensive. If she wants faster cheaper service she can go outsource her operation to India.The Marigold Hotel is in India and does not turn out to be what is advertised. It is "what we hope to be in the future." Where the plot gets muddled is that they go to India for faster service and wind up staying long term at the hotel.The comedy here is British, often subtle, and definitely understated.. There is some mild racism with one character. A little comedy with sexual references, and some mild jokes, many of which I have heard before.Because of the cast and the circumstances I enjoyed the film. The India scenes were very much like the ones in 007 film Octopussy, years prior. Overall, a fun movie to watch.

As I'm under the age of 70 I was not expecting to enjoy this movie as much as I did. In fact it was actually very brilliant. The main characters lives became intertwined seamlessly and each had their own individual perspective on life. A greater more talented British cast I have not seen. When they were all thrust together through circumstance they morphed into one well-rounded personality with the ability to develop into content adults. Maggie Smith and Judi Dench were particularly fantastic.While the cast of characters carry the movie the absolutely stunning backdrop of India sends it over the top. The vibrancy of the setting creates a fun and lively adventure for the viewer. It also seems like a perfect place to find oneself, which leaves you feeling motivated and inspired.