The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Name: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: May 4, 2012
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson

2012

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Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 128 Ratings

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 128 Ratings

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: May 4, 2012 | PG-13

Starring: Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson

Summary: "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
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Director: John Madden

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 124 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

May 2, 2012

We suspect that the film will be about their various problems and that the hotel will not be as advertised. What we may not expect is what a charming, funny and heartwarming movie this is, a smoothly crafted entertainment that makes good use of seven superb veterans. Read full review

Claudia Puig

May 3, 2012

A refreshing, mature fairy tale. Read full review

Joe Williams

May 11, 2012

Lacking beef or sufficient spice, it's nonetheless colorful comfort food. Read full review

David Rooney

Apr 28, 2012

Even at its most predictable, the winning characterizations and soulful insights into aging keep the handsome film on a warmly satisfying track. Read full review

Peter Travers

May 4, 2012

So it's a shame that in the end Madden can't keep the tear-jerking from drowning this delicate cinematic flower. The book knew how to hang tough. The movie, not so much. Read full review

Mike Scott

May 18, 2012

An uplifting and colorful crowd-pleaser, it's built on a wealth of cinematic contrivances -- all designed to make sure things, indeed, turn out all right in the end -- but the result is just too good-natured to begrudge. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

May 3, 2012

A blandly middling crowd pleaser. Read full review

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User Reviews

Gardiner

May 12, 2012

This novelistic tour-de-force takes us to the Anglo-Indian genre of E.M. Foster's "Passage to India," but in modern, post colonial dress. It is literate, funny, and a reminder of what great acting and warm humanity can mean in a film - as opposed to robots and aliens romping in 3-D.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

lancekoz

Jun 7, 2012

I Have a decent tolerance for sweetness in a story, so I didn't squirm when it became obvious where this was headed, and you would have to be foolish to expect otherwise from such British standards. Aside from that, this was a joy to watch. Almost every shot was planned in a way thatI Have a decent tolerance for sweetness in a story, so I didn't squirm when it became obvious where this was headed, and you would have to be foolish to expect otherwise from such British standards. Aside from that, this was a joy to watch. Almost every shot was planned in a way that delivered extra beauty or emotional punch. There was no sense that India was used only for background, the location was in every shot with gorgeous light, grunge and authenticity. And I am glad to be alive in a time where such elderly talent can employed as the focus of the story rather than a comic or tragic sidetrip. Revelatory, really. Humorous, touching, and intimate. My only gripe is that there were too many storylines, and I could've easily done without the romance by the younger Indian couple (the fact that their dialog was delivered in English didn't help). But to carp about this misses the point, that this was made in an EPIC manner.... the art direction and photography were STUNNING and there is plenty to enjoy in the story and quality acting. Like many movies, I only think it would've been stronger if it was 15 minutes shorter.… Expand