Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

When the Brits make a film well, we knock spots off the competition and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a completely joyous example of just such a film! You can keep your Artist, Midnight in Paris. etc. etc, this is two hours of pure bliss. This is the sort of film so well directed, that no one actor is better than another, even the cameo roles are brilliantly observed. Wonderful dialogue, superb acting, one minute exceptionally funny the next, moving. Well observed characters who you feel you know! Plus the added bonus of beautiful scenery, This is the first film I have seen for ages that made me want to stay and watch it all over again - it really is just one great big hug of a film that leaves you feeling very content!

If you liked '4 Weddings and a Funeral' (and who didn't) then you will love this film. The premise is simple: a collection of Brits of a certain age decide to spend their early retirement at a dubious, run- down hotel in Jaipur, India. This decision obviously involves a physical journey but more importantly, an emotion journey too. Gradually we learn the back story of these characters, and these stories are very fascinating indeed.

An absolutely stellar cast are well served by an intelligent witty script with some killer one-liners which are guaranteed laugh out loud. Only occasionally does it get sentimental, but somehow this doesn't matter, because the seductive nature of India weaves its spell not just on the characters but also on us.

It's good to see a film that doesn't treat retirement aged people as idiots. These people are intelligent, funny, curious and I would willingly share a g&t with them. An absolute gem of a film.

I am in that age group that is thinking more and more about what happens when I retire. If the story portrayed in the film can be regarded as even remotely possible then sign me up today.

It was funny to the point that the whole audience wasn't just laughing but laughing loudly and repeatedly.

I didn't care about the actors and actresses playing the roles, just the characters. There is racism, snobbery, love, joy and sadness in just the right amounts throughout the story.

The movie is two hours of escapism with just a small undertone of moral fibre thrown in. It will probably make the move to DVD and television quite quickly; in this case a good thing for the right reasons.

Marigold Hotel was overall a very pleasant film with a distinct feel-good factor - helped by the vibrancy of the Indian setting. Judi Dench is excellent as always, and Bill Nighy really captures the child within for this film. In fact, all of the cast were superb, although Dev Patel suffered from a little overacting! The plot is more like a moral, and explores a 'young at heart' theme throughout. I think the vision of the film is somewhat confused at times. It seems to shift from a full-on comedy to a film about ageism, and it doesn't flow as well as one would hope. Also, Maggie Smith's character (although superbly played) is a slightly far fetched transformation, so I would have liked to see more focus on her throughout the film. Overall though, a nice, entertaining piece of work. Perhaps not as good as you would expect from such a star-studded cast, but nevertheless, very entertaining!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a nice dramedy which had a very great storyline coupled with wonderful performances by the veteran actors.

Evelyn(Judi Dench) Is a divorcée who lost her husband recently and want to clear off her husband's huge debt as early as possible, Grasham (Tom Wilkinson) is a gay who is retired and still not happy after his retirement , Douglas and Jean (Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton) are married couples who are going through rocky phase in their marriage , Norman (Ronald pickup) is single, old broken man who still young at heart and Muriel is seeking a company of filthy rich guy. Different people with different stories meet at broken , mediocre , filthy yet described as "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" in Jaipur. They are unhappy with what was promised to them over them over an advertisement about the hotel but still are fascinated by its unique and authentic charm.

Based on a novel of same name by Deborah Moggach , "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel " entertains you right from the beginning where every person meets at the hotel till the end. John Madden has perfectly chosen each actor playing their part to T. Each actor has different story to tell which makes it more engrossing and compelling. Direction is impressive with few scenes standing out like the one where Grasham tells his reason of coming to India, Jamal explaining the pretentious glamour the hotel . Screenplay keeps you engrossed in the film that you would not realize when the film ends. Cinematography is eye-catching where the setting of India is the reason I was disappointed little bit. How many have we seen India in poor light by Hollywood ? This is probably some tenth movie which I have seen after Slumdog millionaire and The Avengers. However , the stupendous performance by the leading actors is what it makes it stand out. It is difficult is tell who were the best as I felt that everyone did justice to their part but I guess it is Dev Patel who was really impressive as young chap trying to save his ancestor property and impress his girlfriend. Judi Dench was as usual superb along with Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson.

A marvelous film in every context with brave and impressive performances. This one is sure to be enjoyed with your family. Good 3.5 /5