The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (John Madden, 2012) -
The best response I can muster for this one, the best way to describe my experience with the film is "pleasant". That is exactly what this film is. I am not an elderly person looking for the answers after a long and unfulfilled life, but I don't have to be old, that's the beauty of being human. It tackles those universal things and does so not in a groundbreaking way, or even a phenomenal way, but again I go back to that word, "pleasant". We get pleasant characters played quite easily by the grade A cast which includes Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson. Each has their story which contains merits, none are miraculous, but none of them phone it in, not even close. The Wilkinson character was probably the best, but they are all painted fairly, even the young Indian couple (half of which is Dev Patel). We get nice scenery, nice characters, a nice storyline, all of which culminates in a very enjoyable and pleasant viewing experience. I cannot say I have much to say in the negative on this one. It's one fault is that it feels slight, but every once and a while, I like to just escape under the umbrella of simple and enjoyable.
*** - Very Good