CIMPLE – A Curious Introvert's Musings & Photos about Life and Enjoyment

The British retirees and widowers left residing at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the end of the original movie have stayed on in Jaipur, India and the hotel owner, Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel), has deemed his hotel venture a success and is looking to expand in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  The movie opens with Sonny and Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) riding down the highway in a convertible on their way to a business meeting to secure funds for the second motel.  The lovable Sonny and the biting wit of Ms. Donnelly is on display right from the beginning and throughout the movie and, at times, saved the movie from a storyline that was not as satisfying as the first Marigold Hotel movie.  The first movie followed the struggles, losses, and humor of a group of British retirees finding themselves in a very different world in India and the manner in which they adjusted, formed bonds and created friendships.  While watching the first half of the sequel, I experienced an initial sense of disappointment with a storyline centered around the romantic problems of Sonny and the retirees and the financial problems purchasing the next hotel.  Instead of finding humor in the romantic struggles and the time spent trying to impress Guy Chambers (Richard Gere), who Sonny believes has been sent to evaluate the Marigold Hotel for funding approval, I thought the movie failed to repeat many of the special qualities of the original.  I would have preferred watching Evelyn (Judi Dench) and Douglas (Bill Nighy) dating and exploring India together and while Sonny’s wedding dance was wonderful, I would have preferred he and Sunaina (Tina Desai) eloped and more of their time was spent interacting with the guests.  All of the romantic missteps failed to produce the emotion that was so wonderfully displayed by Ms. Donnelly (Maggie Smith) in her moments of reflection and reading her letter to Sonny.  Would I recommend The Second Best Marigold Hotel based solely on the storyline, no I probably would not, but I would recommend the movie for those who have followed the wonderful careers of the actors involved, enjoy experiencing another culture and are willing to laugh and cry over love, aging and loss.