Review of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) by Patrick L — 19 Aug 2015

"A Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? Really? One trip to the hotel was enough but since it made $136 million worldwide, Fox Searchlight decided to make another one".

Movie Review: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Date Viewed: March 7 2015.

Directed By John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Mrs. Brown and Captain Corelli's Mandolin).

Written By Ol Parker.

Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton,.

Ronald Pickup, Tina Desai, Lillete Dubey,.

Diana Hardcastle, David Strathairn and Richard Gere.

I don't know why this sequel needed to be made. It was made just because the first movie grossed $136 million worldwide. The original "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" was charming, funny and well-acted but I didn't request a second trip to the hotel. Yes, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith have a couple of funny zingers but "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is deadly boring. Tom Wilkinson did not return for the sequel, he had unfinished business to deal with, get it. This has been a terrible week at the movies, it also has been a terrible week for veteran British actors and Dev Patel.

"The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is about Sonny (Patel) trying to invest his dream in making a second best exotic marigold hotel but he is about to be married to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai) and he has to learn a dance routine before his big day. Sonny also has to deal with a hunky good-looking rich guy who may or not be trying move in on his fiance. Since Sonny has so much to deal with, the movie turns him into an irritating chatterbox. As for this talented cast of British actors, they are forced to deal with arguments and misunderstandings that are so sitcom level.

"The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" even throws Richard Gere into the mix as Guy Chambers, an American visitor who may or not be a hotel inspector who can help Sonny get approval to open a second hotel. Chambers is currently working on a novel, he just got divorced and he also begins a glamourous relationship with Sonny's mother (Lillete Dubey). There is so much going on in "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" that I just gave up catching up with it. This sequel feels forced and slapped together by Fox executives who are clearly desperate for big box office results.

Director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love).

And screenwriter Ol Parker try to cram in multiple storylines, charming relationships, and slapstick jokes that will appeal to the movie's target audience but this sequel is completely empty. How can you have veteran British actors like Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup and Penelope Wilton in a movie and have nothing to offer from them. Only Richard Gere comes off clean as the would-be hotel inspector. Your probably better off watching BBC shows or "Downton Abbey".