Early Film Review: ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,’ starring Judi Dench & Maggie Smith
Gabrielle Bondi
I love almost all kinds of movies. My tastes can be a little older than my peers, which is an odd thing to admit when you run a site that provides reviews from a youthful perspective. I’d like to think I’m not the only one. However, when I went to a screening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel last month, I was the youngest person there. I’m sort of used that, seeing as whenever I go to see a films on Sunday mornings I’m with the senior set. I don’t mind, I still can’t help but notice though. Clearly, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is geared to the older set. Yet, I found this movie to be so sweet and cute that, young or old, almost anyone can enjoy it.
If you haven’t heard of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, watch the trailer:
Yup, it pretty much has every great, old British actor alive (Okay, not ALL of them.) It’s an incredible cast. I adore Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and company. Hence, it comes as no surprise how well-acted the film is. Judi Dench is the lead, and her character, Evelyn, a recent widow, sort of ties the film together. Maggie Smith plays Muriel, a kind-of-racist, bitter woman who travelled to India for a fast and cheap hip replacement. Smith is hilarious and has such great comedic timing. If you watch Downton Abbey, you know exactly what to expect from Smith (just maybe a little less dowager-ness). Tom Wilkinson plays Graham, a recently retired judge, who travels back to India to visit his childhood home and past. Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton play Douglas and Jean, a married couple trying to come to terms with a lost retirement fund. Nighy was one of the most surprising things about this film. I’m so used to see him playing a villain, a stern or smarmy character. In this movie, he’s very sweet and kind! Not going to lie, I fell a little in love with him. Dev Patel also stars in the film as Sonny, the owner and manager of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Sonny is a bit in over his head when it comes to “outsourcing” British old people. Patel is funny as Sonny. This is definitely his best work since Slumdog Millionaire.
The plot explores each character’s time in India, either together or apart. It’s all put together nicely. The plot flows well, and we get to know, love and/or dislike each character. On top of that, I enjoyed watching all the characters trying to get accustomed to Indian culture.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is such a treat. It doesn’t come out until May, which I think is a good time for its release because it’s an excellent Mother’s Day movie. I went to the screening with my mom, and she adored the film. Therefore, much unlike the last movie reviewed (Project X), this is definitely a movie to take the parents (and grandparents) to see!
The Best Marigold Exotic Hotel hits theaters on May 4th in the US. (It’s already playing in cinemas in the UK.)
