The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel tells the story of a group of aging English citizens who for various reasons decide to "outsource" their retirement and move to India to live, in what turns out to be, a dilapidated hotel. The movie vaunts the talents of veteran director John Madden and a cast of vintage British actors including Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup and Penelope Wilton. The audience follows the exploits of the British expats as well as those of the young - over the top - hotel manager Sonny, his gorgeous girlfriend Sunaina, and Sonny's interfering mother. Sonny is played by Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire fame.
The movie shows how old people can try new things, evolve their characters, find romance and cope in new environments. The film is a comedy with many poignant moments. Most crises get resolved satisfactorily and overall the story is heartwarming.
My wife and I watched the film in a fairly full theatre and the audience broke out in spontaneous applause at the end. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a welcome relief in a season fairly barren of even marginally entertaining movies.
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