Review of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) by David B — 11 Mar 2015

Further adventures of the ladies and gentlemen of the BEMH. This follow up centres around the pending marriage of Sonny to Sunaina.

although he suspects that she is having an affair with the purchaser of a new hotel which is being refurbished....this then becomes the second best exotic marigold hotel. The film then follows up relationships between the main characters who are in various stages of "amour" with each other. Enter possible American hotel inspector Richard Gere who has a crush on Sonny's mother. Strong performances all around especially from the Maggie Smith role who we suspect has received some bad news about her health. She has some of the best lines. Dench and Nighty story is quite compelling too as is the focus on Celia Imrie trying to decide who she wants to be with. The plot is a bit thin in places but the cast is strong enough to carry it. The whole idea that older people (pensioners) could have an interesting life is really at this film's core and it that sense it is encouraging and attempts to break down ageism in a modern society.

Gere is surprisingly strong in a throwaway part for American audiences perhaps....but he shows what a subtle actor he can be. Overall very good although I think the material has been stretched as far as it can go.