FilmSchoolRejects - Your parents probably don’t want to go to The Avengers this weekend (and that’s okay!) but audiences can do far worse for themselves than to take a quick cinematic trip to John Madden‘s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. While a film about a pack of retired Brits heading off to live in a swank retirement resort in India that, surprise!, turns out to be a rundown old hotel might sound like the most boring and narrowly appealing film of the year, Madden’s film is actually consistently delightful and charming, with enough characters and plot points to engage just about any viewer. Running just over two hours, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is able to tackle issues big (homophobia, arranged marriage) and small (there are too many flies in my rundown retirement hotel room!), and despite a few moments that feel far too obvious, Madden and his cast have crafted a lovely film with unexpected mass appeal.
Nicholas of Movies Hate You Too writes:
We’re back after a couple weeks of much needed vacation with one of the best Blu-ray releases of the year. Other new releases include a sleeper horror hit, an old folks exotic journey, a “California Gurl’s” concert film, and several new seasons of hit TV shows. The more vintage releases are more of a mixed bag with couple of Shatner mask sequels, a well timed comic book release, one of Tim Burton’s best films, plus one of the worst sequels I’ve ever seen.
Every once in a while it’s nice to take a break from the endless gusher of summer blockbusters. Instead, Gamevolution's' William Kosh today gazes at the infinite stream of summer feel-good films that wrangle loyalty from academy members brooding in retirement homes. This summer’s first such movie is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and it plays like an Expendables for Britain’s aging dramatic actors. It’s not high art, but it’s not quite bad.
Solid performances and a colourful backdrop saves The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel from its laboured dramatics and cop out resolutions.
