The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Name: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: March 6, 2015
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, David Strathairn, Dev Patel, Judi Dench

2015

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Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 68 Ratings

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 68 Ratings

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The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: March 6, 2015 | PG

Starring: Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, David Strathairn, Dev Patel, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Richard Gere, Ronald Pickup

Summary: Now that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with its long-term residents, co-managers Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) venture into theNow that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with its long-term residents, co-managers Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) venture into the Jaipur workforce, wondering where their regular breakfast dates will lead. Meanwhile, Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) navigate the swirling waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two very eligible suitors, and recent arrival Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) finds a muse in Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) for his next novel. As his marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai), the love of his life, quickly approaches, Sonny finds his plans for the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is Muriel, the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the big day nears, family and guests alike find themselves swept up in the irresistible intoxication of an Indian wedding. [Fox Searchlight]… Expand

Director: John Madden

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 122 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire Nev Pierce

Feb 23, 2015

An entirely charming extension of the most unlikely franchise, gently handling big themes and dissolving cynicism with laughter. Maggie Smith is superb. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Feb 17, 2015

It’s not so common to find an ensemble of this caliber so enthusiastic to work together, and that chemistry comes across. Read full review

The Playlist Kimber Myers

Mar 4, 2015

Smith, Nighy, and Dench aren’t delivering audacious, reaching performances here, but there’s still plenty of charm and authenticity. Read full review

Time Out London Dave Calhoun

Feb 23, 2015

Luckily, there are just enough truths about ageing beneath its corny, farcical surface. Also, it’s hard not to enjoy two hours in the company of this cast. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Mar 5, 2015

Thanks to its funny, attractive, emotionally on-point cast, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel puts the lie to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s pronouncement about life having no second acts. In fact, it goes one step further to question why on Earth anyone would stop at just two. Read full review

Steve Persall

Mar 5, 2015

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a downgrade from the first, doing lots of thing wrong that 2012's sleeper hit did right. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Mar 4, 2015

This sequel sorely misses the presence of Tom Wilkinson, whose out-of-the-closet character grounded the first film (but died at the end). Read full review

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User Reviews

Thegodfatherson

Mar 8, 2015

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is more joyous, fresh and funnier than the first one. Dev Patel, who is also starring in the monstrous robot drama- Chappie, gives a great performance. This film is a refreshing reboot from the aging senior comedies, but TSBEMH gives a new look at aThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is more joyous, fresh and funnier than the first one. Dev Patel, who is also starring in the monstrous robot drama- Chappie, gives a great performance. This film is a refreshing reboot from the aging senior comedies, but TSBEMH gives a new look at a whole new meaning at a whole new genre.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

olderandwiser

Mar 8, 2015

The original “Marigold Hotel” was a funny, charming, and perilous adventure that brought together a band of displaced senior citizens hoping to make a life in a ramshackle hotel in India. The sequel, “The Second Exotic Marigold Hotel” is less perilous perhaps, but equally delicious in it’sThe original “Marigold Hotel” was a funny, charming, and perilous adventure that brought together a band of displaced senior citizens hoping to make a life in a ramshackle hotel in India. The sequel, “The Second Exotic Marigold Hotel” is less perilous perhaps, but equally delicious in it’s finely crafted script, lush locations and delightful performances by a cast of seasoned actors. This film presumes you know the basics of the original (best to see the first one first.)

In this one, hotel owner Sonny (Dev Patel) plans to expand with the help of Mrs. Donnely (Maggie Smith) and a U.S. investor. Sonny believes new guest (Richard Gere) has been sent to check things out. Most of the hotel guests have started new jobs—Douglas (Bill Nighy) is giving tours, Evelyn (Judi Dench) is a buyer for a fabric broker. But of course they all end each day in the twinkling glow of the “Marigold”.

Sequels are frequently a weak continuation of the original, but this sequel doesn’t disappoint. The dialogue is intelligent and genuinely witty enough to make you laugh out loud. The tapestry of life in Jaipur, India is depicted as less threatening and more colorful than in the first film, making “The Second Exotic Marigold Hotel” a treat to watch as romance seems to be bubbling up in every corner.

While Richard Gere may seem an unlikely add-on to this crew of aging hotel guests, you’ll savor every moment Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench are onscreen. The film has depth that may be lost on younger viewers, as it drops the occasional poetic nugget of wisdom meant for those who have traveled a bit further in life.

It’s like going to your favorite restaurant. You’ll love what’s on the menu, you’ll enjoy every bite, and you’ll leave happy.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DawdlingPoet

Nov 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a gentle comedy drama film with themes including camaraderie and entrepreneurship. It is obviously a sequel to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and it features quite a few of the same characters from the original film. It features some quite pretty indian landscapes and a number of sub-plots, some of which are more interesting than others. I felt it was quite watchable and entertaining, although not exactly major laugh out loud style funny, it was certainly relatively amusing. I think there is something funny, in an observational comedy sort of a way, about seeing British people who are quite entrenched in their ways, having to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, which applies to this film in as much as Muriel is dragged long, with young entrepreneur Sonny, to the US to try to get financial support from businesses. Lets say she is less than impressed with what she sees there.

Its quite light hearted (for the most part) and I enjoyed seeing how the characters various relationships had adjusted and the changes that had taken place since the first film (the sequel is set roughly a few months after the end of the first film). The film features, of course, mainly eastern music, Indian including Bhangra music and the like, which definitely does re-inforce the 'exotic' aspect of the films title.

I liked the steely determinism showed by some of the characters - there's something re-assuring about that. Some of the male characters get in a bit of a flap and I enjoyed it, from the point of view that its not necessarily all that often that the husbands find themselves in a tizzy, while the wives (or partners) carry on, headstrong and happy. Whether its a film that appeals more to women, compared to men, I'm not entirely sure - I wouldn't say its utterly a feminist type of a film, that would probably be a case of over-analysing it a bit but I certainly enjoyed it enough in any case. Men aren't exclusively depicted as idiots, so it didn't bother me too much.

Cast wise, the film features a couple of new characters, namely Richard Gere as Guy Chambers and Tamsin Greig as Lavinia Beech. I enjoyed their scenes, although they don't feature in as much of the film as you may, perhaps, hope - most of the film features the original cast, including Maggie Smith as Muriel Donnelly, Judi Dench as Evelyn Greenslade and Bill Nighy as Douglas Ainslie. All give decent, solid performances.

There are some subtitles present, during scenes involving trade deals, although it doesn't make up the majority of the film, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. It is also a bit sentimental, perhaps a little too sweet (as in saccharine sweet) for some peoples taste near the end. Content wise, there is little present which is likely to offend or upset people. There is no real strong language or violence present, although one or two minor crude references perhaps but it certainly didn't seem at all frightening or graphic. Due to this, it carries a PG rating - I think it makes for a pretty decent family film, although it may not particularly interest very young viewers due to it being mainly character and dialogue driven, not featuring much in the way of CGI/large scale visual effects.

The film has the feel of a Sunday evening TV show - think of shows like 'Wild at Heart' and 'The Good Karma Hospital'. There are no major plot twists that make it too depressing or upsetting a watch and it definitely has that slight uplifting feel common in such Sunday evening viewing, only it features some high profile cast members. It is quite a symbolic film, with some poignant dialogue, much like the first film was/is and I liked that.

Yes I'd recommend this film, if you enjoyed the first one then the chances are, you'd enjoy this follow up. Its quite light hearted, amusing at times and not too depressing or upsetting, plus it features some good cinematography. Its probably not quite as funny as the original film but its still a decent watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

groberts

Mar 17, 2015

Am I the only one who noticed that the "Hotel Inspector" plot was lifted from a Faulty Towers episode? John Cleese and Connie Booth should have received credit as co-writers. A pleasant enough sequel, but I don't think I'll pay to see Marigold Hotel 3.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Mar 11, 2015

The gang's all back with less comedy and more romance. Dev Patel's charming innocent has turned neurotic, but almost all of the rest, including Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Billy Nighy and whippersnapper Richard Gere, are bound for amorous entanglements. There's a big wedding that adds someThe gang's all back with less comedy and more romance. Dev Patel's charming innocent has turned neurotic, but almost all of the rest, including Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Billy Nighy and whippersnapper Richard Gere, are bound for amorous entanglements. There's a big wedding that adds some festivity, but otherwise it's a parade of predictable interactions. It's slower and less charming than the original with storylines that aren't as original.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

erom1943

Apr 17, 2015

I second TV Jerry's review, which was right on. I greatly enjoyed the original "Marigold Hotel", but was disappointed at this sequel. The Dev Patel character was way overdone, and as others noted, he was actually annoying.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hpantazo

Sep 19, 2015

One of the worst movies I have ever seen. The plot is simple, slow and boring, the attempted comedy falls totally flat, and the movie overall doesnt make you care one bit about any of the characters. A waste of Richard Gere's talent.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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