“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is a 2012, Golden Globe-nominated dramedy with an all-star cast of veteran actors playing seniors looking to re-live their youth and re-charge their lives by traveling to India and staying at a newly built, but poorly constructed hotel. It was solidly entertaining, but a little overrated and rather depressing, all of which made the news that a sequel was in the works rather surprising.
Yes, the original was a surprise box office hit, but a concept like this, specifically for an older audience, doesn’t usually result in a second go-around. I had fairly low expectations going into “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (which will be a strong contender for honor of longest title of the year). Thankfully, with a warm, authentic script, a lighter story that still deals with some heavy themes, and an excellent ensemble cast in top form, this return visit is a much more enjoyable experience.
The plot of “The Second…” is overwhelming. There are at least half a dozen storylines going on all at once. Most of them involve past, present, or potential romances between and among the residents from the first film, with a few newcomers tossed in. But the focal point is the upcoming wedding of hotel owner Sonny (a much less annoying Dev Patel than in the original) and his fiancee Suniana. Sonny also has his sights set on opening a second hotel in town. After a meeting he attends with Muriel (the great Maggie Smith) in San Diego with a possible investor, the chances for expansion are looking better. However, complications quickly arise.
Meantime, Evelyn (Judi Dench) has been freelancing for a fabrics company, but gets an offer to work for them full-time. Longtime friend and now tour guide Douglas (Bill Nighy) wants to marry Evelyn, but she, at the age of 79, still isn’t ready to commit. Another resident’s companion is having an affair, another can’t decide between the two men who have asked for her hand in marriage. And, if all of that wasn’t enough, Richard Gere shows-up to the hotel as a writer Guy Chambers. He immediately falls for Sonny’s mom, who wants nothing to do with him.
The best thing about “The Second…” is the more positivity and spirit that was missing from in the original. There are some genuinely funny moments, and plenty of sarcastic one-liners about getting old and dying. Smith received a SAG Awards Best Supporting Actress nomination for the first “Marigold Hotel”, but she actually gives a more effective and meaningful performance here. And while much of the film is completely predictable, real emotion does come from the final act, which has a lot to say about life and love.
Should we expect “The Third Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”? Probably not. But you’ve got to give a lot of credit to returning director John Madden, who proved that, for once, it was completely worthwhile to make a sequel to a film that really didn’t need one.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” gets a B.
Running Time: 122 min.