March 5, 2012
Focussing on the lives of a set of senior citizens, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows the group as they attempt to escape the loneliness and financial strain of growing old in Britain. When the opportunity arises to relocate to a luxury hotel in India, it is, supposedly, a no-brainer. The subsequent stay at the hotel – that turns out to be not quite as luxurious as suggested – is recorded on one resident’s blog. (How it is possible to keep a blog going from a hotel where not even the phone line works will remain a mystery.)
With a cast including Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith as well as Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel, director John Madden’s latest offering is likely to attract a wide audience. Unfortunately some of this audience may be disappointed as, much like its eponymous hotel, this film is aimed at the more mature cinema-goer.
It would be great to be able to say that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel provides a refreshing look at the lives of the elderly. It would also be a lie. Watching Madden’s film is a little like watching a film that you’ve already seen; the one-liners were surely rolled out of retirement for this one. The performances were undeniably good, but they should be, considering that most of the cast were playing parts they’ve played before.
The biggest problem with the plot is that it doesn’t quite fit into film format. There are references to various backstories but not the time to dig any deeper, and a sub-plot involving the hotel owner’s complicated family life that we could have done without. This excess clutter is probably a sign that the screenplay was not very cleanly adapted from its original novel form.
Putting aside its pitfalls and plot holes, Marigold Hotel was clearly made with the best of intentions. The cracked and crumbling hotel that, as it turns out, is not ready for demolition just yet provides an apt reflection of the overriding sentiment that life goes on beyond sixty.
The film aims to teach that there’s life in the old dog yet. Unfortunately, this maxim doesn't always apply to the film itself - it's perhaps one dog that should have been put down in pre-production.
