The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel review

Madden, once again at the helm, and working from an excellent Ol Parker script, provides a great deal of heart and soul as he continues with the story of Sonny (Patel) and the septuagenarian guests residing at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur.

The core cast is back, dealing with new careers, young love and fresh beginnings – and the audience is drawn into a bright world of light and music designed specifically to evoke India’s eternal charm.

The story, set against the impending nuptials of lovebirds Sonny and Sunaina (Tina Desai), focuses on the usual suspects, who have now been ensconced in the hotel for eight months and are forging new lives for themselves and attempting to keep the bright light of hope shining.

Muriel (Maggie Smith) is helping Sonny run the hotel; Evelyn (Judi Dench) works for a textile import company; Douglas (Bill Nighy) plays a tour guide patiently waiting for Evelyn to return his awkward romantic advances; while Madge (Celia Imrie) and Norman (Ronald Pickup) run the affairs of The Viceroy Club. Madge is still playing fast and loose in matters of the heart, while Norman embraces a girlfriend Carol (Diana Hardcastle) who is cheating on him.

Sonny has his heart set on expanding his little bit of heaven and owning a second hotel. For all its lightness, this production doesn’t really allow these pedigreed players to interact more fully with one another and the potential for more telling repartee is missing.

The film, though, does provide a fine reflection on the sacred final years of one’s life and negates the foolish belief that just because one attains a certain age, pleasures like love, friendship and careers are no longer attainable. It applauds the empowerment, given the various characters who discover time has become more precious now and they can let go of a past which shaped them.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has magical appeal and comes as a tonic in the current film climate of violence and negativity.