Review of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) by Awi A — 30 Dec 2012

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012).

Directed by John Madden.

Starring: Dev Patel, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Judi Dench, Bill Nighly, Cella Imrie, Ronald Pickup,.

SPOILERS AHEAD...SO IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THE FILM: DO NOT READ!!!!

Often with the passing of one year to another...itâ(TM)s then that I find, in hindsight, the many things Iâ(TM)ve overlooked. Iâ(TM)ve realized, in my growing years, that the rear view mirror is sometimes quite a joyous place to delve. Now not to drone on and on about it...but the many grand things that Iâ(TM)ve missed often end up being the very best of surprises.

This year, while anxiously waiting on The Dark Knight to rise...for the Avengers to avenge...for another Bourne to find his identity...or for another Bond film to fall from the sky...and in general watching such as those, it is then that I miss such amazing fare as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

There were many âdouble takes and over looksâ? of 2012...the shortlist for me was Looper, The Master, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Argo, Chronicle, Ted, The Impossible, Moonrise Kingdom, Life of Pi, Magic Mike, Cloud Atlas, The Raid: Redemption, and Perks of Being a Wallflower...and thatâ(TM)s really no shortlist.

Beholding to that list, it should be noted that as a cinema fanatic who âplants himselfâ? for just about each and every film of any caliber and genre that he can, Iâ(TM)m proud to state that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel belongs somewhere in that list as it was amazing...simply amazing.

Even though some of the script is very simple, the character endings clichà (C), and some of the dialogue even seems to have to be carried from bit to bit by the actors and actresses themselves...its still an easy 2 hour ride. I reckon thatâ(TM)s how the cast and Sonnyâ(TM)s character are alike. The fantastic line up of British Super Stars shine up the script, just as Sonnyâ(TM)s (Dev Patel) dreams and enthusiasm brings them all together.

The film revolves around several key-plot points and numerous characters. One of the first and more interesting of both: Sonny. Sonny is the youngest East Indian son of a largely successful and expansive family recklessly defies his arranged future and chooses to bring his dreams to fruition by restoring the dilapidated Marigold Hotel of Jaipur, India to its former glory and turning into a retirement home for wealthy retirees. Completing this task becomes more than he can bear, as does living his life beneath his motherâ(TM)s high expectations. Letâ(TM)s just say that thereâ(TM)s a beautiful local girl involved and that Sonnyâ(TM)s mother approves less of than she does his managerial dreams of running the hotel.

The second plot points revolve around several groups of British retirees whom, upon learning of the rich and exotic hotel via a series of advertisements, decide to venture forth for the journey of their remaining lifetimes.

Upon arrival, they find the palace to be little more than an old crumbling shell of its former self, dripping faucets, broken down walls, and all. While the hotel leaves much to be desired, India itself offers each couple new experiences, a new lease on life, and even new and lost loves. Not to mention young Sonny who more or less bridges the gaps between the couples and brings them all together. Quite often, itâ(TM)s hard to decide what brings them closer: Sonny, India, or the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, herself.

I loved this movie from act to act, from scene to scene, and from motion to motion. I truly loved this film...so much so that I watched it twice, back to back.

From Ronald Pickup going to an Indian physician over the matter of his âdeclining virilityâ?, to Dev Patel âposingâ? hands folded in front of his own photo as the manager of the B.E.M.H. grinning like a Cheshire cat from ear to ear, Maggie Smith getting out of her wheel chair to walk to the counter and become the CFO of the hotel, to Tom Wilkinson finding his life long love affair meet its untimely demise, to Bill Nighly and his wife separating over the trip, and thus Judi Dench and Bill Nighly becoming a couple...I canâ(TM)t decide what was my most favorite part.

I canâ(TM)t decide what moved me to tears the fastest.

Itâ(TM)s a beautiful film that deserves so much more recognition than it got. Really. By one & all.