The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Movie Name: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Year of Release: 2011

Director: John Madden

Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imre, Ronald Pickup, Dev Patel, Tena Desae, Sid Makkar, Jay Villiers

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

John Madden's career reached a peak with "Shakespeare in Love", but it has been quite irregular since then. His new film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" follows a group of British retirees, who find themselves booking a hotel suited for seniors in India. This eclectic group have a common denominator - they are all looking to find companionship or meaning in their lives. Once they reach India they find out that the hotel is far from what the brochure and website have advertised. It's up to them to enjoy and make the best of what the situation has presented itself to be.
John Madden adapts the book from Deborah Moggach, very much like the standard view of India that fills the postcards. What the film does present of unique is the fantastic group of actors who bring all these characters to life. Each of these characters that are part of the group, are in some way looking to bring some meaning into their lives, now that they reached a certain age, where they feel left out or simply forgotten. Quite simply put, they need companionship. And that is something that though different in their personalities, it unites them and bonds them. The film and the screenplay have nothing new to say, but to see these actors bring these characters to life and interact with each other is simply fantastic. For that alone, the film is compelling and worth watching.