Second Time's a Charm with The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Movie:   Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - O.S.T.

PG, 2 hour 2 minutes

Grade:  B+

In a Nutshell:  The cast is charming and fantastic: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Dv Patel and even Richard Gere. 

If you liked the first movie, this one will feel like you’re spending a couple of hours with good, old friends...."old" being a key word.  I guess I'm showing my age when I say that I really enjoyed both movies... While the target audience is an older crowd, younger viewers will see some of their favorites from Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

As a stand-alone movie, it’s ok, but it’s MUCH better if you have seen the first movie made in 2012, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , in order to fully appreciate and understand the growth of the characters, as well as know what’s going on.  In fact, it’s very satisfying to see “the rest of the story.”

Uplifting Theme:

·         “Water doesn’t flow until you turn the tap on.” – Madge (Celia Imrie)    In other words, don’t sit around waiting for your life to happen. Make it happen.

·         Judy Dench’s character asks herself “How many lives can we have? But then I thought…as many as we want!”

·         “In the end, it’s all very simple: to look into someone’s eyes and to say ‘yes, it’s what I want’ and for them to say ‘it’s what I want too and there’s nothing to fear.’” – Douglas (Bill Nighy)

·         Maggie Smith’s character (Muriel) says “There’s no present like the time.” Indeed.

Things I liked:

·         If you liked the first one, you’ll enjoy this sequel.

·         Sonny’s quips are fast and funny throughout the entire movie.

·         I had a friend get the Henna hand art tattoos just for fun, but in India, brides get it done for their wedding.  I think it’s really pretty.  Speaking of weddings, I thought the Indian wedding scene was beautiful with so many colors, flowers, and interesting traditions.

·         In the movie, Richard Gere plays a man who is 64 years old, but in real life, he’s actually 66!  While Hollywood is filled with plastic celebrities, Richard Gere seems to be growing old quite gracefully.  Younger viewers may not realize that he was actually named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Some of the story lines end a bit vaguely.

Funny lines:

·         “You’re nineteen days older than I am.” – Muriel

“Nineteen days is the life span of a wasp.” – Evelyn

·         “While her language is salty, it has great economy and pith.” – Sonny talking about Muriel

·         “You’re probably thinking I’m a bit young to be staying at the Exotic Marigold.” – Lavinia (Tamsin Greig who has fantastic biceps)

“Either that or your plastic surgeon is a genius.” – Sonny

·         “I’m 79 years old!”   Evelyn

“We don’t mind if you don’t.” – Susan

“Nobody checks out until…they ultimately check out.” – Sonny

·         “You have bedrooms?” – Sonny

“For when our members get tired…or fortunate.” – Viceroy Club concierge

·         “I must apologize.”  - Sonny

“You already apologized.” – Sunaina (Tina Desai)

“I mean it more now.” – Sonny

Interesting Lines:

·         “Sometimes it seems that what we want and what we fear is the width of an eyelash.”   Evelyn

·         “Coincidence is just another way of saying we cannot see the whole plan.” – Sonny

·         “There’s nothing I admire more than those who plant trees under whose shade they may never get to sit.” – Ty Burley (David Strathairn)

·         “There’s no such thing as an ending…only the place where you leave the story.” – Muriel

·         “Let go.  That’s where the fun starts.” - Muriel

Tips for Parents:

·         Some sexual innuendos.

·         Some British profanity like “bloody”, “bollocks”, etc.

      Young kids will be extremely bored.  Teens may only be mildly entertained, but watching the  
      film together might be a catalyst for talking about their purpose in life.