When it comes to the acting chops involved with “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” you can’t really get much better. The IMDB profile reads like a roll call for The Avengers if The Avengers were made up of older British actors instead of fictional super heroes. The all-star cast includes Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith among others who are not as recognizable here in the States but keep up with these peerless professionals. While the average age of this ensemble is definitely pushing up well above 50, the film offers something for viewers of all ages.
This is because the smart script by Ol Parker, working from a novel by Deborah Moggach, doesn’t merely focus on the problems befit of the elderly. While some of the topics include losing vitality and remaining relevant to society, the film also examines loveless marriage and love lost. Issues that are universal. As “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” tackles these issues, you can tell that the actors relish an opportunity to tell a story that doesn’t marginalized them.
The film is ensemble piece that focuses on a group of retirees that travel to India for the promise of a luxurious retreat at a beautiful, freshly restored hotel. Lies. All of it lies. The hotel has rooms, to be sure, and most of those rooms have doors and running water but luxurious is not an accurate description. This is because the hotel’s young owner, Sonny (Dev Patel), has a terrible habit of using numerous adjectives that don’t come close to explaining reality.
Each of the crew has different motivations for being in glorious India: Evelyn (Dame Judi Dench) has just lost her husband and must liquidate everything to pay his debts. Graham (Tom Wilkinson) is trying to heal a lifelong regret. Muriel (Maggie Smith) is a narrow-mined racist who is forced to travel abroad for an inexpensive surgery while Madge (Celia Imrie) and Norman (Ronald Pickup) are looking for love. Romance. Life. Death. Etcetera.
While much of the film is refreshing, there are some clunky spots as some of the ends are tied up a little too easily. These sort of multi-plot films are hard to get perfect (see just about every Robert Altman film as an example on how to do it right) and not all elements are equal. While Judi Dench gets meaty scenes as a woman who never had to stand on her own, some of the other characters are reduced to spending their time just trying to get laid. Tom Wilkinson’s storyline, while heartbreaking, ends far too abruptly and is almost laughable at its forced finality.
While the plot has moments of awkward and clumsy the acting makes it all worthwhile. These are masters and to see them work together is a treat. Bill Nighy and Dench steal it and many of the smaller moments tug the heart strings. Director John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love”) lets the actors shine and gives plenty reasons to take this trip.
Special Features
“Behind the Story: Lights, Colors, and Smiles” featurette
“Casting Legends” featurette
“Welcome to the “Real” Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” featurette
“Trekking to India: “Life is Never the Same”” featurette
“Tuk Tuk Travels” featurette