Bill NighyThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel [Blu-ray]

It is rare - too rare - in this day and age to find a movie that features an entire cast of actors who are true masters of their craft.Instead, we are too often bombarded by films that feature visually stunning special effects that mask mediocre performances and sub-par writing.That is decidedly not the case in "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." This is a film that features a virtual all-star team of actors, an exotic (and very colorful) locale, and some very fine writing. It is a story about growing old with as much grace as possible while discovering that love is not the strict province of the young.Because this is a sequel, there are some critics who have said this movie does not live up to the high bar set by "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I think they are wrong in doing so for this is a separate movie. True, it has virtually the same cast and takes place in the same locale, however, it is its own film with its own objectives. Its purpose is not just to carry the story forward but also to explore new themes.For example, three of the hotel's residents have rejoined the working world while another couple struggles with the challenge of living in a monogamous relationship when conventional wisdom assumes that they are long past the age at which this question even arises. The residents must also cope with cross-cultural differences, the toll that aging takes on not only the body but also the mind, and the heightened awareness of their own mortality.The story revolves around two main issues: The impending wedding of hotel owner Sonny (played by Dev Patel) and his fiancee (played by Tina Desai) and his efforts to buy and develop a second residence for older men and women. As part of his efforts to secure a loan for the second property, he must cope with an undercover inspector sent by the corporation that he is asking for financial backing. That leads to some unexpected - and often charming - consequences not only for Sonny but also for the other residents of the hotel and his widowed mother.Joining the cast for this movie are Richard Gere and Tamsin Grieg. Both blend in beautifully with A-listers Judy Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and the rest of the cast that returned for this sequel. I make a point of that because it's not always easy to do so, especially given the huge success of the first film.The cinematography is excellent, giving viewers a real sense of what it is like to live and work in modern India and the direction is sure handed. I am a writer by profession and am often overly critical of movie scripts but I must admit I had no issues with this one. The story moves along in a smooth, well-reasoned fashion and the plot - while a little convoluted - is well imagined. The dialogue is often hilarious but throughout the movie the actors are given ample opportunity to express a wide range of emotions.For my money, this is a 5-star film and one that I will enjoy watching many times over the course of the next few years.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is one of our favorite movies at home. The script is brilliant. The acting, direction, and filming created a memorable movie we have been happy to revisit many times. A number of quotable lines are staples of conversations at home.We wondered if The SECOND Best Exotic Marigold Hotel could match it. Sequels are often disappointing.On the whole, Number Two succeeds on its own, and as a sequel. It weaves together several good stories, with some continuing from the first movie while others have fresh starts. There is a theme of growth, progress, maturing and success that goes beyond the first movie.In practice, now, whenever we watch the first movie we also watch the second. That's a good measure of the success of the second movie.I hope that's somehow helpful. Anyway, we liked it quite a lot.

Most follow up movies are not as good as the first hit. This is comparing apples and oranges a bit but both these Marigold Hotel movies are FEEL GOOD entertainment. The first a group of English retirees head to India to try to live in better comfort on reduced circumstances and arrive at their prepaid ramshackled hotel run by a Pie In the Sky dreamer. Learning to adjust and acclimate requires effort but for most pays off. This is the second follow up and the entire first cast, including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nigh,...then add Mr Gere and one ladies upon seeing him utters Bless my Ovaries...the raciest remark in either movie. The colors , customs, music and dancing are so uplifting and various plots very endearing that the youngsters wedding is the big climax. Indian weddings are legendary . Be sure to watch the Extra bits ...fun hearing the stars talk about the thrill of all coming together again, reactions to Richard Gere, and their love of how the Indians reacted to them returning to film again. This is a movie that can lift your spirits whenever you have " one of those days" ...great script and actors we all know and love. Buy it!

While the first Best Exotic Marigold Hotel beats out this second one, it’s still charming and a fun watch—as well as tender and sweet.The first one had a bit more charm, however, that the second one at times tried to force in with its story.The second got off to a slower start, but it soon settles in and finds its place with the audience and characters. I did feel the Richard Gere character, Guy, was a little forced. And when Guy tells the beautiful Mrs. Kapoor that she was “once-beautiful” and implied that her age had marred that beauty- I mean seriously? She’s gorgeous! How condescending that was. I also find the Norman character smarmy and icky and hard to watch - ugh - but I found that in both movies.Of course the Maggie Smith and Judi Dench characters are always fun and amazing to watch. While Bill Nighy is as well, though I don’t think they used him to his fullest and his speech at the end seemed forced in just to let Judi Dench know how he feels.But despite the flaws particularly in the second movie, I love both of these movies and was touched by them. I’ve watched both several times and will happily watch them again!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a 2015 British sequel comedy-drama film starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Tina Desai, Lillete Dubey, Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Rajesh Tailang, Ronald Pickup, David Strathairn, Tamsin Greig, Dev Patel, & Richard Gere. Overall I enjoyed this film, here are the pros & cons, I hope this helps you.Pros:1. Acting is very good especially the parts acted by Maggie Smith & Judi Dench2. Well written3. Nice endingCons:1. Not as good as original and not as inspiring, motivating, or though provoking2. Cinematography is bland and could have been so much more vivid & culturally interesting3. If you did not see the original, this film would not stand on its own vey well

I enjoyed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which I found to be charming and entertaining, however this sequel is dire. I disliked nearly everything about it.The young proprietor was false and irritating and the film struggled on for two hours without any real plot or engaging storyline. The dialogue was poor and the whole film was disjointed switching from one dull,ageing character's activities to the next randomly. The movie fails to cohere and the cast fail to gel convincingly.It was like their hearts weren't really in it this time. The message of this film seemed to be that old people should just continue partying,shagging and working as if they were still youngsters which didn't appeal to me at all. I twigged pretty soon into the film that this was a turkey and I was going to switch off,but I persevered watching and it just didn't get any better. Watch the first film,but give this dross a miss would be my advice.

I can't share the enthusiasm for this film though I was a huge fan of the first one which was brilliant. The 'second best' was exactly that with poor and implausible plot lines that spoiled the film. In the first film, part of the whole charm is that the hotel is struggling to make ends meet in a crumbling building. Suddenly with the cast looking not much older it is awash with money with, for example, a smart new hotel minibus complete with signwriting. Then the main character does a deal to open a large and prestigeous building as a second one, apparently almost overnight and without telling even his fiancee or family (his mother was shocked at the news). Hmmm. The spectacular array of talented actors on the cast list deserved something an awful lot better than this and the writers could have done a whole lot better. It was really great to see the characters back again (I missed Tom Wilkinson whose character died in the first film) but I was bored in places and at the end was left feeling very disapointed in the film which I had been eagerly awaiting.

Once again this hits the chuckle muscles. Great cast with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Celia Imre, Ronald Pickup and Dav Patel brilliantly reprising their respective roles and characters from the First Exotic Marigold Hotel and this time with the addition of a mellow Richard Gere giving a nice smooth supportive performance to the action. Sonny[ played by Patel ] pursues his over-optimistic vision and next great venture and we follow his ups and downs in a wonderful riot of colour and a mixture of gentle humour and occasional pathos. A great film and well worth your investment of time/money. The Marigold Indian wedding sequence is wonderful. Some of the out-takes for this film, if they were harvested, would be an entertainment in their own right [ like they do with Jackie Chan's films set alongside the credits at the end] because everyone must have thoroughly enjoyed making this delightful heart-warming film

I'd buy the film all over again because of Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. But then I'd buy a video of them reading the phone book, so very biased. The film itself did not meet my expectations -despite Richard Gere also adding considerable weight to it. For me, this follow up lacks... I don't know... everything (!) that made the first film superb. Well, almost everything, the colours, peoples and images of India are still wonderful.

At my age I should have known better. This disappointing film suffers from what might be called 'The Last of the Summer Wine Syndrome'. The producer has realised, perhaps with surprise, that a production is a tremendous success - and then can't resist the temptation to milk the concept by making a sequel in hope of making even more money.This was too diffuse. Too plotty (as with later series of LoSW). Uplifted, of course, by the fine actors, although I suspect that perhaps they were just walking through it this time. Was it really necessary to drag in the excellent Richard Gere? That must have been a commercial decision. And I felt that the dance sequences were over-extended.I give it 2½ out of 5.