The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: DVD Review

‘Everything will be alright in the end and if it’s not alright then it is not the end.’

A film by director John Madden and based on the book by Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a feel-good, uplifting comedy about making anything possible by taking risks, facing our fears and celebrating the changes in life.

This film has an extensive cast of A list British actors/actresses including Judi Dench as Evelyn a newly widowed pensioner, Bill Nighly and Penelope Wilton as Douglas and Jean who endure a crumbling marriage, Celia Imrie and Ronald Pickup as Madge and Norman who are two singletons, Maggie Smith as Muriel who is a bitter old lady and Tom Wilkinson as Graham who is a high court judge with a secret and not forgetting Dev Patel as Sonny who is the charming Hotel owner.

This group of pensioners decide to retire to India, in particular to the Marigold Hotel which is advertised as for ‘the elderly and the beautiful’, as they are struggling to find a comfortable retired life in England and are promised a delightfully picturesque stay in India. However, when they arrive they find that the Hotel is in worse shape than they are and they struggle to find a home in the rubbles. Old relationships seem to unravel as new friendships blossom and the pensioners adapt to the relaxed way of life, spicy food and the locals.

However, despite being set in Jaipur, India, the film seems to focus itself inside the Hotel, rather than amongst the local culture. All that is shown of India are stereotypical images of children playing cricket, a call centre and the manic busy roads. The culture remains unexplored as Bill Nighly talks of a fantastic temple that he visited, yet we never see. Thus, it would seem like this group of pensioners, who as actors/actresses ooze ‘Britishness,’ adapt to life in India but do not actually indulge in the culture or traditions. Since it is focused on two countries that are intertwined throughout history, it is a shame that more was not done in the film to bring together these two cultures. The film feels as though it is trying to represent the cross cultural relationship between these two countries, but unfortunately all that has come from this are stereotypes.

Despite this, the film is enjoyable, if one can overlook these stereotypes. It is a heart-warming and vibrantly colourful comedy which has some hilariously comic scenes and great performances throughout. This film has a great cast that pulls the narrative together, even though it feels like slightly more could have been achieved with their great talents.

This is a film to watch on one of those rainy days when you need something to lift your spirits.