Review: ‘Best Exotic Marigold’ sequel doesn’t settle for second best

A movie about several older British people living out their twilight years in India doesn’t seem like a movie most teenagers would enjoy, but don’t let the synopsis stop you from experiencing the charm of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Last Saturday, I took the opportunity to go to the movies and see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. While standing in line to buy tickets, I overheard the lady behind me explaining the plot of the first movie to the man she was with, and after hearing that, my interest was piqued.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows up the first film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and does a good job of following all of the main characters.

As we’ve seen in the first film, six British retirees have traveled to India to live out the rest of their lives at a hotel that claims to be extremely luxurious and made specifically for the elderly.

The hotel, run by Sonny (Dev Patel), doesn’t seem to be luxurious at first, but it grows on all of the main characters and they decide to stay and live there the rest of their lives.

The second film picks up with the hotel proving to do better and still run by Sonny. We see that Sonny is now engaged to his girlfriend, Sunaina (Tina Desai), and they are planning the wedding.

While Sonny worries about one of his new guests being a hotel inspector, he also thinks about buying a second hotel in India to expand his business. Sonny also fears that Sunaina has feelings for another man who is also interested in buying the second hotel.

While the first film focused heavily on a number of different characters, this one focuses mainly on just Sonny and the relationship between Evelyn (Judi Dench) and Douglas (Bill Nighy). I liked this much more, and it told a good love story.

Dench and Nighy’s characters obviously were in love by the end of the first film, and this film shows them now spending more time together and how their relationship grows.

Patel, Dench, and Nighy all have entertaining and heartwarming performances. You really sympathize with them and for the people who saw the first film and enjoyed it, they’ll like this one too because watching it feels like you’re catching up with old friends.

Overall, it is a feel good movie, and I found myself laughing throughout and always interested in seeing what would happen next. Normally, I’m more drawn to darker thrillers and dramas, but I’m really happy I went and saw this.

The only thing I didn’t like about this film is that there seemed to almost be too many minor characters with too many subplots that the audience has to keep up with, and it can make things a little confusing and hard to keep up with at times.

Overall, I did really enjoy it, and I think it’s a wonderful film that will warm the hearts of audiences.

Rating: 7/10