The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (8/10)

by Tony Medley

Runtiime 122 minutes.

OK for children.

Hollywood meets Bollywood in this sparkling sequel to the 2012 surprise breakout hit, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, based on a novel by Deborah Moggach about a retirement home in India. On a budget of $10 million, it had a worldwide gross in excess of $136 million. So, naturally, Fox Searchlight rounded up the usual suspects, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Emrie, and the others, added David Strathairn and charming Richard Gere, and gallivanted back to India for a follow-up while all the actors are still alive.

John Madden returns to direct from another script by Ol Parker, and they haven’t lost their touch. What caught on in the first was that these were senior citizens who were getting on with their lives and those lives included romance! Yes, Virginia, there is romance after 60 and this film concentrated on it.

The sequel continues that theme, which is the gist of the story despite a plot about the ever enthusiastic Sonny (Patel) trying to finance a second Marigold Hotel while preparing to marry Sunaina (Tina Desai). Frankly, I never did get into the idea of the second hotel because the lives of these people are what the movie is about and what make it fascinating.

The Indian locations add immeasurably to the film. The “Marigold Hotel” is actually Ravla Khempur, a charming royal palace turned equestrian hotel in the village of Khempur outside the scenic lake district of Udaipur.

Added to the story and the fine acting is the eye-popping color that is so typical of Bollywood. It even closes with a wonderful dance involving the entire cast.

No more need be said. Anyone who liked the first won’t be disappointed with the sequel.

Nobody thought the first would do much, so a sequel was the last thing on their minds. Now a third installment with this mostly British cast is not an idea to be summarily dismissed.