Introduction
Welcome to my corner! Last week, I shared my thoughts about the film Ladies in Lavendar. Once again, I've been too lazy to read a public domain story, so we're continuing our Maggie Smith (and by chance Judi Dench) movie marathon with, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Enjoy!
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a 2011 British comedy-drama film directed by John Madden. The screenplay, written by Ol Parker, is based on the 2004 novel These Foolish Things by novelist Debora Moggach and features an ensemble cast consisting of Dev Patel, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Penelope Wilton, as a group of British pensioners moving to a retirement hotel in India, run by the young and eager Sonny, played by Patel.
Plot: Several British retirees decide to move to Jaipur, India to stay in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, advertised as an exotic retirement home. Evelyn Greenslade, a widowed housewife, must sell her house to pay off her husband's debts; Graham Dashwood, a High Court judge who lived in Jaipur as a child, abruptly retires to return there; Jean and Douglas Ainslie hope to have an affordable retirement, after investing in their daughter's internet business; Muriel Donnelly, a former housekeeper, decides to have a hip operation in India to avoid waiting times; Madge Hardcastle, after several unsuccessful marriages, searches for new romance overseas; and Norman Cousins, an aging lothario, attempts to relive his youth.
Acting: I have a hard time watching movies with bad acting, so more often than not, I won't have anything bad to say about the acting in the films I review for this column. That sentiment holds true for this movie as well. A star studded cast with little possibility of failure. Surprisingly, the cast is the same for the sequel, so no problems for that one regarding acting either.
Technical aspects: Principal photography began on October 10, 2010 in India, and most of the filming took place in the Indian state of Rajasthan, including the cities of Jaipur and Udaipur. Ravla Khempur, an equestrian hotel which was originally the palace of a tribal chieftain in the village of Khempur, was chosen as the site for the film hotel.
These two movies were beautifully filmed. Hard not to be when the setting of the film was India, and they actually filmed there. I love it when they do that! Filming on location always adds an extra layer of depth and realism to a film's story; the soundtrack was also beautifully exotic and nice to listen to.
Themes: The themes the first movie explore include: aging, feminism and embracing life. As the hotel is a place for retirees, it's not surprising that one of the themes involves aging. The characters explore how life changes for them as they age and settle in India. They each deal with different issues that come with aging, like loss of a spouse, low finances and failing health.
Women have always been treated differently, but it's even worse as an older woman. They're seen as old, frail, no longer sexy or capable.
As aging people, the characters realize their time is not long enough to waste. They have to embrace life and not ponder on the mistakes and little things.
Evaluation: I liked this movie. I would recommend giving it a watch, along with its sequel.
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a 2015 comedy-drama film directed by John Madden and written by Ol Parker. It is the sequel to the 2011 sleeper hit film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and features an ensemble cast consisting of stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup, David Strathairn and Richard Gere.
Plot: As his marriage to Sunaina draws near, Sonny sets his eye on opening a second residence for the elderly but finds the project requires more time than he can spare. Meanwhile, Evelyn and Douglas wonder where their relationship is going, Norman and Carol try to remain exclusive, Madge juggles two rich suitors, and the single remaining vacancy poses a problem for two new arrivals. As the demands of Sonny's traditional Indian threaten to overwhelm them all, an unexpected solution appears.
Themes: The second movie explores similar themes (as it is a sequel) including: aging, life and purpose.
It's never too late to change and do something different. Age doesn't define you. Purpose gives meaning to life; and life is fleeting. When a mistake is made, it's best not to leave it. These movies teach nice life lessons for all ages.
Evaluation: As far as sequels go, this one is great. It has all of the same actors/characters from the first movie and retains the same vibrant storytelling and beautiful settings. Definitely give both these movies a watch!
That's it for this week! What were your thoughts? Feel free to share them with us! You can call us, email us, visit us at the office, leave us a comment or message on Facebook, or even mail us something. Keep the comments, suggestions, questions, submissions, etc. coming our way! We'd love to hear from you!
