Summer Movie Review #1

Yesterday katie and I went to see the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (for the elderly and beautiful). I give it an A!

A group of seven British (don't you just LOVE british actors) retirees travel (all expenses paid) to the "newly restored" Marigold Hotel attracted by the seemingly exotic India and with hopes of stretching their retirement savings. Upon arrival they learn the hotel is not what was promised: no telephone service, bizarre dinner fare, dusty accomodations, and run down plumbing. Nonetheless over the course of the adventure each and every one of the ragtag group is profoundly transformed by his/her experience.

The breathtakingly colorful setting of Jaipur, India is a character in and of itself. The crowded streets, the various vendors: meat, cloth, jewelry and spices, the delapidated buildings, the religious sounds that echo, all create not only a fantastico place but steer the characters on their individual and group journeys.

All the actors in the movie portray their characters beautifully. My favorite characters are: Evelyn (portrayed by Dudi Drench) who is a recently widowed housewife forced to sell her home due to huge debts incurred by her late husband. She gets a job in Jaipur as a cultural adivisor to a call center. Then there is Douglas (portrayed by Bill Nighy) who is funny and positive and extremely handsome for an "Old Guy."He eventually divorces his "biatch" of a wife (amicably).  Madge (Celia Imrie) does a good job portraying a character that goes from angry, bitter racist to dogmatic and resourceful manager of the hotel finances. Her character changes the most and we see her real personality. Finally there is Sonny (Dev Patel) the extremely enthusiastic hotel manager and overseer
 of everything. He is funny, postive and caring of the retirees.

I loved the movie and (mark my words) think it may be up for Best Movie in 2012 at the Academy Awards with some nominees for best actor! The only thing I question is that the appeal of this movie may be age related. Katie--at eighteen--did not seem to find the movie as lovable as me. She thought it was "cute." I thought it was profound, knowledgeable and life-lesson-learning.