The Second Best Movie of the Two

Remember how good we felt watching The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel back in 2011? Well the gang is back and personally I think it was rather bold of them to bring out a sequel of such a stereotypical movie. Especially with a title having the words "second best" in it. 

The Brits are back this year with more romance and less comedy, with Richard Gere joining the gang. The film and the cast still have the charming effect like before but I felt like the plot could be stronger. If you haven't watched the prequel, which was adapted from Deborah Moggach's novel, you might have difficulties figuring out what's what and who's who from the very beginning of the movie. There are too many actors and too much going on all at once.

The director John Madden has done an excellent job on making the whole cast create ripples of sentiment in you. The character Muriel played by the ever-loved Maggie Smith is a character that grows on you, especially by the end of the movie. Like the first Marigold, this one also felt like a 2 hour long Indian vacation, where you have to deal with obvious romances, the other guy, subtle jokes and a hit Bollywood number where everyone dance their hearts out.

The sequel starts with Sonny (Dev Patel) and Muriel (Maggie Smith) who wish to open a new hotel in India. Patel's character is no more the adorable, innocent boy he was. Sonny is now nervy and so very annoying at times that you might have a hard time enduring him throughout the whole movie. In between Sonny wanting to become the owner to a second hotel and getting married to the love of his life Sunaina, lots of other romances spring up on screen that will teach you of heartbreaks, moving on and well, life.

The ultimate surprise to me was how Madge's (Celia Imrie) life turned out to be and of course, the whole cast including our very own Richard Gere dancing to a popular Bollywood number at the end. The movie was very heart warming, one that you'd love watching on a lazy Friday with your family. You might even have to hold back a tear or two if you're having a bad time or can relate to the hopeless wanderers that are the characters.

Mashiat Lamisa is often seen frowning at the sight of people who dislike poetry and tomatoes. She can be reached at mashiatlamisa@outlook.com