Review of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) by Sunayana P — 17 Dec 2012

A great cast of actors let down by a really poor, heavy-handed script. Far too many scenes stretch credulity way beyond breaking point. Just to give one example near the beginning - a group of that kind would never have taken a bus journey in that way. And in general There is no way many of the Indian characters would have behaved as portrayed.

Another major problem is that the writer has tried to cram in far too many subplots. The result being that none has the necessary space to develop properly, and many are forced to some immediate fake emotional conflict .

The script seems to have been written to pander to as many clichéd ideas about India as possible. There's barely a moment of authenticity in the whole film.

Great idea, great actors, great locations, absolutely dreadful script.