The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The comedy/drama genre is usually a sure fire way to give an audience a top-notch quality film, and with "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", this concept still rings true. This film has plenty to offer with both writing and acting, which is a rarity these days.

British retirees including recently widowed Evelyn (Judi Dench), Graham (Tom Wilkinson),  Douglas Ainslie (Bill Nighy), Jean Ainslie (Penelope Wilton), Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith), Norman (Ronald Pickup), and Madge (Celia Imrie) are mostly strangers travelling to India who inadvertently end up taking residence in what they believe is a newly restored luxurious hotel managed by young, affable, head-in-the-clouds Indian, Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel). Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in totally unexpected ways.

Others to round out the cast are Lillete Dubey as Sonny's well-meaning, but over-bearing mother, and Tena Desae as Sunaina, Sonny's girlfriend.

The directing in this was really well paced by John Madden ("Ethan Frome" '93, "Golden Gate" '94, "Truth or Dare" (TV movie) '96, "Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown" '97, "Shakespeare in Love" '98, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" '01, "Proof" '05, "Killshot" '08, "The Debt" '10), emitting much emotion where needed from his actors. It was equally well written by Ol Parker based on Deborah Moggach's novel "These Foolish Things". The script was a fairly simple premise, but executed so well in that the actors presented themselves as these ordinary people, and when written, their presence as these hurt, troubled people rang true. Dench's role as a recently widowed retiree was so honest and real as was Wilkinson's role as a trouble attorney who hasn't been to India for 40 years out of fear of opening up a wound. Then there's Smith as an old crotchety, bigot who is in need of a hip surgery, who gives a hoot of a performance. Dev Patel as Sonny is a guy who you want to believe, because he's so likable.

This is a charming, heart-warming, very entertaining film that will have you laughing and crying within the same paragraph. The characters are eclectic and rich as are their performances. As you watch these characters change in the most subtle of ways, you'll be rooting for all of them in their own way.

Out of 4 stars: 4                    Rated: PG-13                     129min.