The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a funny, heart warming tale of several retirees living in India. It was well received by audiences and critics alike so it should be no surprise that a sequel has now found its way to the big screen. But can it recapture the magic of the first film? In a word, no, but it's not all bad.
All the cast are back, this time to celebrate the marriage of Sonny (Dev Patel) and Sunaina (Tina Desai). Of course, nothing runs smoothly, with jealousy, indecision and a bizarre assassination plot all mixed in together.
Along for the ride this time around is Tamsin Greig and Richard Gere, who may or may not be who they say they are.
Everyone is in fine form, with stand out performances from Maggie Smith, as straight talking assistant manager Mrs Donnelly, and Bill Nighy as the bumbling, but lovable Douglas. Whilst the actors are good, the film is let down by the story. The movie is inconsistent; some parts were left open ended, some were overly confusing, while other sections were predictable. There are some comedic moments (mostly delivered by Smith's deadpan character) but it is not as uplifting and humorous as the original film.
The look of the film itself is utterly stunning. The sumptuous colours, the lavish costumes and the glimmering lights all brighten up the screen. The movie is a feast for the eyes.
There are also several dance scenes that all look well choreographed and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun. However, as grand as it looks, it can sometimes be just a distraction from the sub-standard story.
Although the story is left at a place that could lead to another film, I hope they decide against it. Wonderful actors and beautiful scenery are unfortunately not enough to save a poor story.
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