Film Reviews: 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' & 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'

I bought the first of these films on DVD from a car boot sale a while back, but never got round to watching it. Then, at the end of July, I had a close friend of mine from England up to stay for the weekend (it was a really awesome weekend- so maybe I should do a post just about what we got up to?) and we decided to watch the first one, and rent and watch the second one too! I then reached the first one a couple of weeks later with another friend who had just returned from the part of India in which the film was shot!

The best word to describe these films is heart-warming. The first follows the stories of several elderly people who have made the decision to uproot their lives and check into a hotel in India which is a 'retirement community' (but id really a financially unstable crumbling business run by a young man, played by Dev Patel, with a big heart and a big dream, who's simultaneously coping with the pressures of a controlling mother who won't allow him to marry the girl of his dreams).


Throughout the first film you see each resident develop as a person, watch them discover who they really are and make peace with the fact that they have a limited number of months left in this world. The cast, which included Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imray, Bill Night, Tom Wilkinson and Ronald Pickup, were sensational and the plot inspiring.


The second film carries their stories on, as competition from another buyer casts doubt on the future of the Exotic Marigold Hotel Franchise dream. These stresses test the lead characters devotion to each other, and their collective goal and reminds us all that life is worth living, and that we should make the most of every single day (I don't care if some of you view that as cliché haha!)


All-in-all, a fantastic duo of films and I definitely recommend them. They would make for a really nice family movie night too, as their inspirational messages and comedic value hold something for everyone!