Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2012
***
Director: John Madden
Cast: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Tena Desae, Lillete Dubey

Seven English senior citizens, some for personal and some for financial reasons, move to India to live in an attractive retirement resort. The hotel in question turns out to be a poorly run, dilapidated old building, but the new location presents a chance for a new start for many in the group. Although this comedy drama is formulaic, it is thankfully not a conventional culture clash story. However, when the elderly Brits come to India and teach the locals how to sort out their love and business affairs, it's hard to judge whether that is post-colonial arrogance or just wisdom brought on by old age. In any case, the film tones down the Indian accent to a minimum and offers pure, unadulterated wish fulfilment, but as wish fulfilment goes, this is smart and enjoyable. The cast obviously oozes charm.