"The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (movie critique)

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
MOVIE POSTER

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe journeyed to the local multiplex to see "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" as we had seen the first movie and had enjoyed it so much so we just had to see this sequel.  

This movie picks up a few months after the first movie ends.

The action takes place in Jaipur, India and the main characters, retired British pensioners, have taken up new lives in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel which is managed by Sonny (Dev  Patel). Due to the success achieved at the hotel, Sonny decides to open a second location.   He and Muriel (Maggie Smith)  fly to California to make a pitch for funding this new venture to a retirement center conglomerate, led by the President, played by David Strathairn. A decision to fund the project is tabled while the offer is being considered.   Sonny finds out that the company often sends an undercover inspector to determine if the company they are considering is worthy of the financial investment.  

Dev Patel

Maggie Smith

David Strathairn

Back in Jaipur, Evelyn (Judi Dench) and Douglas (Bill Nighly) are still friends with no benefits and Madge (Celia Imrie) is still looking for Mr. Got The Big Bucks and has 2 rich Indian suitors on the line.  The last of the couples in the mix are Norman (Ronald Pickup) and his girlfriend Carol (Diana Hardcastle), still trying to determine where their relationship is going.  And along the way Douglas' ex-wife, Jean (Penelope Wilton) shows up to finalize the terms of the divorce.  

Judi Dench

Bill Nighly

Celia Imrie

Ronald Pickup

Diana Hardcastle

Penelope Wilton

Two new guests arrive to check in to the hotel , one is an American writer Guy (Richard Gere - sigh) and the other an English woman, Lavinia (Tamsin Greig).  Sonny decides that Guy, being an American is the hotel spy, and begins to cater to him hoping they will receive the financing he needs to open the second retirement hotel.

Tamsin Greig

Richard Gere

As the story progresses more fun things take place and often chaos ensues.  

In the mist of all this intrigue, Sonny and his finance Sunaina (Tena Desae) are getting married and there is much to do and get done for all the various celebrations that place at an Indian wedding.  Then Sonny learns that his childhood friend has purchased the hotel that he had his eye on for the expansion.  Throw in Sonny's mother, Mrs. Kapoor, (Lillete Dubey) and Guy being attracted to each other and there are lots of story lines going on.

Tena Desae

Lillete Dubey

The movie starts wrapping up all the loose ends of the story during Sonny and Sunaina's wedding celebrations. Having never been to an Indian wedding, this was a joy to see and experience even on film as it was so much fun.  The dance sequences for the wedding were enjoyable to watch.  How they can choreograph all of those dance moves is amazing plus the clothes were a riot of vibrate colors and lots of gold jewelry was layered on.

Is "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" as good as the first?  Probably not, but it is still good and we all totally enjoyed it as for once the people in love and re-defining their lives were all over the age of 65! Just remember - love knows no age limit!

The movie was directed by John Madden - no, not the one who is into football!

John Madden

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 1 big toe and 1 middle toe up with henna paint on them.

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional movie critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.