The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel


The sequel to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is in actual fact more of a remake of the original, with the stella grey hair cast of the likes of Dench,Nighy, Smith, Pickup, Imrie, and Richard Gere all jostling for position in this coming-of-age story. Strange really as the coming of age- age is 75 rather than just 16.
This is why, I suspect, that  the "Marigold" franchise has proved to be so popular with the over 50 year old cinema going public, for it underlines that EVERYONE no matter how old they are can have a second chance.
And so, set against the vibrant colours of an Indian Wedding we have Judi Dench embarking on a new career and a new relationship with Bill Nighy at the age of 79. Society good time gal Celia Imrie settling down with a gentle taxi driver instead of her Royal suitors and Career Man Gere giving up his job for the love of an Indian Widow.
Yes all bollocks
But it's pretty, colourful and fairly entertaining bollocks...even if the hotel manager ( Dev Patel) is far too garrulous and irritating for the average movie goer to cope with...
I had to laugh to myself too, for when Richard Gere appeared at the hotel reception for the first time, there was a loud ripple that went through the audience like a Welsh matrons' Mexican wave......

Maggie Smith as the foul mouthed Muriel

I have to give praise here to Maggie Smith , who reprises her role as the foul mouthed Cockney spinster receptionist Muriel Donnelly with some gusto. She steals every scene she appears in and the whole
film is given an unexpected and surprisingly moving turn when her character realises that she dying ( dying being the running gag throughout the movie)

This fact is underlined in one beautifully understated scene where hotel resident  Evelyn (Judi Dench ) acknowledges Muriel's Possible Death through suicide.
Very little is actually said, just the powerful sharing of a message through two old faces, but it had me blubing with the rest of the audience at the  packed independent cinema at Colwyn Bay Theatre!
Clever casting two old dames in their 80s who without breaking sweat could so easily rule the world.
7/10

47 comments:

  1. Please consider writing a book of your musings.

    ReplyDelete
  2. spouse and I are going to see this film on sunday. the cinema will be filled with people over 50 (YAYZ for us!). and we enjoyed the first film also.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry with the spoilers!
      I enjoyed it........sowill you
      I missed Tom Wilkinson , who was in the first movie

      Delete
    2. we LOVED it! I don't think maggie smith's character will off herself, but she DID seem to get some disturbing news at her MD visit. and I would have a go with richard gere ANY day (woof!)!

      Delete
  3. I thought it was just as good a film as the first, but in a different way. As for those two ruling the world....I think the world would be a far better place if they did! The bollywood dancing was pretty cool too....a tad jealous of them if I'm honest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My sister who came with us, said thedancing was the only thing missing from our wedding!

      Delete
    2. Haha.....bet she wasn't far wrong.

      Delete
    3. Who got the hennaed hands and jewellery?

      Delete
  4. I've not seen either (no surprise) but given how well the Walking Dead has gone over here, I suspect we'll be watching them once we find them.
    Wonder if the Great Scot will blub?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't seen either either. I had the book and started reading it. Seeing as so many people liked the film I guess it makes a better film than a book. I gave up and chucked the book in the fire after 30 pages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its a pretty film Rachel
      Enjoy the colours if you hate the story!
      TS is still quiet
      Ifhe doesn't come back next week
      I suggest we both go to bath

      Delete
  6. have seen the first, will watch the second one at some point in life.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can't wait to see it. For all of the reasons you said and also, because I am sixty and I need all of the input I can get on how to live joyfully until I die.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the film is interesting as in the West..i DO think we need validation ( us over 50s) that we just as important as the young uns
      This is why this movie has a resonance

      Delete
  8. I can't wait to see it. Saw the first movie several times and read the book. LOVED it, probably because, at over 60, I relate totally! Thanks for the review. xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Now that I've read your review, I want to see it even more than I did before! (I just now know to bring an extra hankie, it would seem...)
    Cat

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm still waiting for 'The Best Exotic Trelawnyd Hotel'.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's on my 'to see' list. I loved the first one :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I thought the film was mostly uninspired nonsense, with the exception of Maggie Smith, who came across as a convincing and sympathetic character. A film based around Muriel Donnelly would be brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I saw it the other night and agree that there wasn't much of a story, but it is worth seeing for the colour, the costumes, the sheer joyfulness. And those two old dames rule the world.

    ReplyDelete
  14. So, it's all bollocks, with just the one unexpected and surprisingly moving bit near the end - which you've just blabbed about....
    You remind me of my sister. When I said I was going to watch The Sixth Sense she said 'oh, the one where Bruce Willis is dead all along but doesn't know it'....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now wanda
      Lets recap something
      1. A hint to the blog entry is IN the title
      2. You know full well that I write film reviews which include spoilers
      3 if you didnt want to find out about the film... You didnt have to read the review
      4 i never blab
      Xxxxx

      Delete
    2. I know all that, but you mentioned Richard Gere early on and my ovaries wouldn't allow me to turn away....

      Delete
  15. Having seen your pithy remark re this film under my 'Cinderella' review I posted a response there, which really ought to have been here - but can't be bothered to write it out again. Just so you know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for returning there, J.G.

      Delete
  16. "Welsh matron's Mexican wave" Ha ha ha.
    Seen the first film looking forward to the second, good fun I reckon.
    Gill

    ReplyDelete
  17. Saw the first one at the cinema but think I'll wait for the second to be shown on Sky. Maggie and Judi have a chemistry in real life that shines through when they act together. It's always a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I should go see it, I enjoyed the first one. I spend a big chunk of my professional life trying to empower older adults, I thought the first one said a lot about finding your way as a person at any age.

    ReplyDelete
  19. We went to see the film last month with the boys. We all laughed a little too loudly at the "where are you from line". We lived here in the States close to a quarter century and just about any where we go we get the same question.
    I was surprised our sons enjoyed the movie, but they did. It was an enjoyable afternoon.
    I did look up the age difference between Judi Dench and Maggie Smith - it is 19 days!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous11:30 am

    I've yet to see the first one....I imagine it will be on television soon enough.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This movie is rated PG65. Given the age of the cast, I doubt it will be a trilogy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Can't wait to see the sequel. Anything that stars Nighy and Smith is good for me.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Just seeing all these truly great actors/actresses together makes any movie worth while. I am seldom disappointed with a film from the UK . I haven't seen this one yet as it hasn't been here yet. I certainly plan to see it though! Maggie Smith is great in anything.

    ReplyDelete
  24. And all these old girls look so glamorous in spite of their age.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Those two old girls are awesome no matter what they're in.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Firstly, I can Not stand R Gere, so this 50+ yr old will Not be rippling when he appears on screen.
    Secondly, I must learn to not read your blog post when it is a film I want to see so that I am not disturbed by Spoilers, tch tch!!
    Have a Good Easter, I'm knackered as have moved middle child into his own flat - yippee one down, two (or three if I can get rid of The FW) to go.....
    x

    ReplyDelete
  27. Good thing I've seen it as you told what happens ! This 52 year old loved it

    ReplyDelete
  28. I very much enjoyed the book. I haven't seen either film but do wish to.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I saw the first one on DVD, and watched it again before seeing the second one on the big screen. Glad I saw it on the big screen because the colours are amazing. I thought the storyline a bit too thin and waxed a tad maudlin towards the end, but I did enjoy the film very much.

    Richard Gere doesn't do much for me, so I'll be sitting next to Susan I suppose, when she goes to see it.

    I did miss Tom W, too, but there's no way they could've brought him into this second story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I thought I was the only female one the planet that didn't get the R Gere thing. And as for T Cruise ....meh
      x

      Delete
  30. Your review sent me to Amazon to download the first movie. Thank you, I enjoyed it, even though the thought of being old in such a bustling place was a bit frightening.

    ReplyDelete

I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes