Is there anything more fun than a film about a group of unrelated people thrown into a fish-out-of-water situation? That is the skeletal explanation of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
My main attraction to the film was the cast, some of the UK's best--Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkensen, Celia Imrie--you cannot go wrong with a group like this. Even more thrilling was that the film was actually playing in one of our 2 local theaters, which is pretty unheard of for a movie like this.
The premise is this: 7 British seniors, for a variety of reasons that range from financial to medical to a thirst for adventure, leave the comforts of home to live in India. Their destination is a run-down hotel for the "elderly and beautiful," run by the idealistic Sonny, a young man desperate to make his fortune and his mother proud.
What follows is a delightful 2 hours as we follow our cast on this journey of self-discovery in a setting that none of them (save 1) are accustomed to. They must adjust to everything...the food, the language, the hygiene, customs, geography, shopping, transportation--not an easy thing to do in your 60's and 70's. Some are more successful than others. All are deeply changed by the powerful effects of their new home.
The dialogue is witty, the characters are multifaceted, and the Indian landscape is both colorful and staggering in its poverty. We are reminded that love, life and wealth have nothing to do with where you live and how much money you have. They are found in your attitude, perception, and relationships with others.
I enjoyed every moment of this movie and highly recommend it to anyone who loves British films or is in search of something a little different. I look forward to seeing this again and eventually adding it to our DVD library.
The trailer:
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