Review of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) by Jc E — 22 Oct 2012

This is one of those films that featured so many accomplished British actors that I knew I would enjoy it in some fashion. When you get the likes of Judi Dench (My Week with Marilyn), Maggie Smith (Gnomeo & Juliet), Tom Wilkinson (The Debt), and Bill Nighy (Total Recall) together, you tend to take notice.

Add others like Celia Imrie (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace), Ronald Pickup (Prince of Persia), Penelope Wilton (Pride & Prejudice), and Dev Patel (The Last Airbender), and you've got a template for a great film.

While it wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, I thought it was pretty earnest considering most of these folks are old enough to be my grandparents. Clearly I didn't fall in the right demographic for the film, but I still appreciated it for what it was worth.

I don't think that it was intentional, but there was kind of an implied commentary on the health care system in England, seeing as that's the reason Smith's character ended up going to India with the troupe.

And while there was a little social commentary with Wilkinson's character, it was downplayed in lieu of a more heartfelt story.