(l to r): Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy
Release date: May 4, 2012 (ltd., wider release May 11, 2012)
Directed by: John Madden
Screenplay by: Ol Parker
Based on the novel “These Foolish Things” by: Deborah Moggach
Cast: Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 122 minutes
If Carl from Up bumped into Shirley Valentine on his next balloon trip to India; if Eat Pray Love‘s Liz Gilbert located a personality; if director John Madden took the delicious rhythms of his Shakespeare in Love … oh, wait, he did, delivering some of his very best in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Echoing the characters themselves, Madden refuses to let his 60+ years slow him down, continuing to divine the divine in this salute to exploring new paths no matter the age; no matter the baggage.
And speaking of baggage, seven British retirees pack as much of their lives as they can into a few trunks and trundle off to India, lured by advertisements for the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” that bespeaks a viable, economic alternative to UK retirement homes. After all, why contend with England’s high prices and endless winter, when pensioners can bask in the warm climate and colors of Jaipur, living out one’s days in a quasi-palace that brings to mind a miniature Taj Mahal?
Talk about your false advertising …
[For the full review on doddle, and Kimberly's rating, please click here]