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With 2012’s grown-up comedy, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, director John Madden took viewers on a magical journey to India, leaving audiences so enchanted that they were eager to book a return trip. Now they can book a room in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for an experience that’s every bit as colorful and charming as the original.
The follow-up finds hotel manager Sonny (Dev Patel) juggling two important new ventures: his upcoming wedding to Sunaina (Tina Desai) and the future expansion of his hotel empire.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful has been such an overwhelming success that it’s almost always filled to capacity. Sonny hopes to partner with an American hotel chain to buy a second hotel—but before they’ll agree to the partnership, he’ll have to impress their secret inspector.
Meanwhile, as the hotel’s elderly residents prepare for Sonny and Sunaina’s wedding, they find themselves considering their own romantic prospects.
Once again, the massive ensemble cast lends itself to several different storylines: business ventures, romantic entanglements, and a comic misunderstanding that could prove deadly. The abundance of interweaving stories means that none of them really get the development that they deserve—and, as a result, they’re generally fluffy and predictable. But the lovable cast ensures that you’ll happily overlook the rom-com (and old age) clichés.
Patel is still amusingly over-the-top as the hotel’s young host. Sonny may not always make the right decisions, but he makes every decision with the kind of enthusiasm that you can’t help but love. And while the character may sometimes resort to stereotypes, at least he’s always an adorable stereotype.
The hotel’s residents, meanwhile, are as charming as ever—from Judi Dench’s go-getter Evelyn, who’s considering a new career move, to Maggie Smith’s stern Muriel, who advises Sonny in her own endearingly ornery way. And as they embark on their latest endeavors, they remind viewers that things like love and ambition and adventure aren’t just for the young.
And the fact that these adventures are set against a vibrant cultural backdrop only adds to the film’s charm. The Indian culture comes shining through—with music, costumes, architecture, traditions, and even bustling city streets to make the film seem brighter and more striking than the same old comedy.
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel may not be deep or thought-provoking or even especially original—but it’s definitely entertaining. The characters and culture make it an endlessly charming adventure—one that’s worth the trip to your favorite theater.
Blu-ray Review:
The best special features are the ones that remind viewers of a film’s best parts—and make them eager to watch it again. And the Blu-ray release of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is filled with that kind of special features.
The extras here aren’t exactly extensive. They aren’t long or especially in-depth, either. But the six short featurettes offer just a tantalizing glimpse into the most lovable parts of the movie: the charming cast, the romance, the exotic setting, and the gorgeous cultural touches. There’s also a gallery of stills, which also focus on the characters, the color, and the rich culture of the film.
The features are, admittedly, somewhat limited. You won’t find any commentaries or blooper reels here. And it doesn’t take a whole lot of time to get through the entire collection. But for those who love the movie but don’t want to bother with hour-long behind-the-scenes features, the extras here are short and sweet and well worth a few extra minutes of your time.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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