The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel [DVD] [2011]

Very funny, feel good movie with brilliant actors, no crime and sex, elderly orientated!

This is a gentle masterpiece, a truly superb film which sways back and forward between gentle comedy and proundly moving scenes of grief and loss with a delicacy rarely seen in film. A group of senior citizens, strangers to each other, but united by their uncertain future at home in England - through reasons financial, medical, spiritual and romantic - take the leap from buttoned-down Britain, and find themselvs plonked in the middle of Jaipur - hot, sweaty, chaotic, bewildering. To make matters worse, the hotel they've been seduced to turns out to be more of a fallen ruin that the palace of the brochures. So how do they cope with change? And how does this shockingly different world shape their futures?With an ensemble cast like this, you would expect something great - but the whole of this incredible group of actors more than adds up to the sum of its parts. The incomparable Judi Dench leads the cast, and also narrates brilliantly - "Is it our friend we are grieving for, whose life we knew so little? Or is it our own loss that we are mourning? Have we travelled far enough... that we can allow our tears to fall?" she asks in one breathtaking moment. I don't think there has even been such a mesmerising actress. Much the same for Penelope Wilton, marvellous in bringing real depth to what could have been an unsympathetic role - passive-aggressive and disappointed, socially aspirant and socially awkward, who blames her loving husband for her inadequate position in life. Nighy is also great as the husband, pushed to breaking point, but determined to put a good face on things, whatever the circumstances. The scene where he finally bites back is fabulous.Tom Wilkinson's character - for me at least - forms the emotional core of the film; if Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is about the notion of home, his is the character who embodies it most fully (I'll say no more than that). And he is phenomenal, in a beautifully-written role.Light relief comes from Ronnie Pickup and Celie Imre, both lovely as the randy singles seeking a last hurrah, as well as Dev Patel who is cute (if twee at times) as the perky manager whose optimism can almost prop the falling hotel up on its own. And Maggie Smith as a grouchy racist with a dicky hip is exactly what the (Indian) doctor ordered...It's beautiful, it's lovely - and I found, wonderfully reassuring - to have a story told about ageing, in which life continues to offer new beginnings and new challenges. And to know that even the most rigid soul can be shaped by new experiences and surroundings. I know that one day I, and so many of the people I love, will all face forks in the road like these - and I only hope that this gorgeous film will inspire more of us to open our hearts and follow the new, rather than sink into the quicksand of the well-trodden path.

Great film, nice gentle pace and humorous.Great to have our own copy, often rewatch.Plenty of well known names in it too, love it.Nice to just watch a film with a lovely feel good factor to it.

Excellent acting by superb actors although the story-line is a bit weak.

I lent my DVD to friends who are a lot closer to the age of the characters - and cast - presumably the target audience than I am and they were distinctly underwhelmed. They actually asked 'what happened. What was it all about. What was its point?'.The answers to all these is 'not a lot'. It doesn't need to, It's not meant to, rather like (I guess) life in the autumn years where things get taken as they come. A love of cinema - and British cinema at that, goes a long way too - these actors are more than the cream of 'our' acting crop, they become 'our' relatives and eventually, through the unfolding of the film, our friends too.I love the stereotyped cliches here - because they are real - we all know of elderly relatives who would (or like to, if they dared!) say, as Dame Maggie Smith does "if I can't pronounce it, I won't eat it!" All the mild racist slants get suitable and just reprimands, which, if anything, are even more funny.Yet, it's not all comedy. This is a multi-faceted human drama that has many angles and a few surprises - never rushed (at 2 hours, many say it's too long and slow)it explores these avenues at the story's pace, not ours.The script is a gem, too - natural and well written.I won't cover the story itself as there are plenty who do. I would say that Best Exotic gets better the second time round. The critics seem to love it, but one asks whether that's because of who's in it. As an average but avid film-watcher I'd stay in the middle of that one - the cast seem to get on well with another (always helps!) and their acting is top-drawer. The inclusion of a now older lead actor in Danny Boyle's smash hit Slumdog Millionaire, as the young 'entrepeneur' trying to run the titular "Hotel" is both inspiring (he's engaging, witty and thoroughly enjoyable) and endearing, adding another touch of familiarity for us that 'know' our movies.Not for everyone, though the advertising will certainly try to tell you otherwise and if you've doubts, rent it. It's also been on Sky Movies for a while now, so if you get those, you can catch it there.

What a film the comedy timing is superb,with Judi Dench,Maggie Smith,Bill Nighy,Penelope Wilton it’s got to good and Dev Patel who was Sunny made it memorable,the second best marigold isn’t too shabby either,one of my best purchases.

Have me very good ideas and a push to go go and do things!!!

Consigliato da un amico, anche se non è il mio genere, sono rimasto sorpreso dalla bellezza e delicatezza di questo film che affronta le tematiche delle persone anziane rimaste sole, che volano in India per la promessa di una vecchiaia migliore, e lo affronta con sentimento e un tocco di ironia, con grandi attori sempre all'altezza (Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie smith e l'attore rivrelazione indiano Dev patel). Non vedo l'ora di vedere "Ritorno al Marigold Hotel"!

If you love India or are interested in India, see this. If you don't know about India, see it. An amazing comedy-drama with some of Britain's greatest actors. It's a film that improves with multiple viewings.

Je donne la note pour la filme. Pas pour la service. Aucune idée pourquoi ils ont des titres different. J'ai pensez à un suite. Mais c'est The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Heureusement ma fille avait besoin d'un copie.

ジュディ・デンチもマギー・スミスも現在の姿で堂々の出演。生きる意味を深く問いかける内容だが美しい大地と明るい恋人も素敵です。人生捨てたものではないと思える力強い映画です。