You've never heard of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel?? GASP! Well, that's because it wasn't marketed to a wide audience, it's for people like me who see movies just because it has at least two Harry Potter actors in it: namely Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith. I tell you what, if nothing else, it was great to see Professor McGonagall as a racist bigot.
This is a quaint British flick about exploring life over the hill, and across the world. Unsatisfied with their golden years being spent in England, seven aging retirees independently decide to move to a newly restored cheap hotel in India. Despite the beautiful pictures in the brochure, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is in shambles, and this is only the first in a series of disappointments for some of the guests.
The truth is I very much dislike when someone tells me they thought a movie was, "OK." Come on, did you like it or not? Make up your mind! But, I've found that I must use that boring description for this particular movie. It was ok.
I enjoyed how all of the characters were introduced, particularly Maggie Smith. Maggie is a racist jerk-off, offensive and belligerent, and is forced by cost and time to get a hip replacement in India. Her development is interesting and feels organic enough till the end, when suddenly she's accepting and world-wise. I wouldn't say the other characters were bland, but they were definitely underplayed, and realistic in terms of how a real person would react to real world situations. That being said, there was only a few humorous moments, and only one or two really emotionally charged scenes. For instance, there was a very raw moment between Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton that portrayed a side of marital dysfunction that you rarely see in films.
So if you usually enjoy understated British thingies, and aren't in the mood to be razzle-dazzled, I recommend this film to you. Also, you must have an interest in stories about getting old, otherwise you wont get past the first 10 minutes.
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