6/10

Friends turned family return in this sequel to the 2012 original that outshines the former despite it’s condescending title. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the biggest thing in India. Co-managers Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) venture into the workforce, with each of them supporting feelings for the other. Meanwhile, Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) navigate the swirling waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two very eligible suitors, and recent arrival Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) finds a muse in Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) for his next novel. As his marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai), the love of his life quickly approaches, Sonny finds his plans for the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available. Sonny is put through the ringer with his relationship to his girlfriend crumbling, as well as the threat of a childhood rival nipping at his business heels. What this sequel lacks in originality, and stretched storylines, it more than makes up for in great performances by arguably the most complete list of British actors ever, and an improved tone that infuses some much needed comedy during a first act that really kicks the film off positively. It’s not a perfect film by any means. One thing that the first film did better was juggling many storylines, but it being self aware by knowing which ones to spend the most time on. This sequel has a problem investing it’s time into the unnecessary, mainly from Norman and Carol’s monogomous relationship, to Madge’s search for love. Both rely on false perception cliches that are found in any romance genre film, and it robs the spotlight away from where it deserves to be. Mainly, that light should be focused on the ever blossoming love of Evelyn and Douglas, and the deteriorating health of Muriel. Maggie Smith has always been my favorite thing about these films, and her comedic timing is better at playing a straight woman than any goofy or silly character who you will see in slapstick comedy. She has a soft spoken wit that commands respect and laughter from any moviegoer. She paints an awkward picture in a look that explains more than a ten minute deposition scene. Dench and Nighy sport great chemistry as well. We root for their romantic success, as we know the troubling backstories of each of these characters better than anyone else in this star studded cast. I wish the film could’ve focused more on these characters, and less on the ones that slow down the pace during a spiraling second act. The movie has a way of getting it’s audience pleasantly lost in the colorful sets and rich traditions of an Indian wedding ceremony. The finale completes itself with a full on Bollywood dance number with the beautiful neons radiating against a starry night sky. If there is one thing that takes “Second Best” above and beyond, it’s the real aspect of knowing one of these characters could be gone at any moment. These films have always had a great narrative on the war with time, and how it affects the way they live their twilight days. We care about these characters, and in turn, the final scenes of the movie nearly brought me to tears with a perfect goodbye not only to the audience, but to the people most important to this character. Overall, i would say that whatever your reaction was to the first film, it will be the same for this sequel. I enjoyed both films for the feel good tones that Director John Madden demands from his audience. If you enjoyed the first film, i demand you check out the sequel that is better paced, and a film that centers urgency every bit as importantly as it did in the first film. “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is the feel good hit of the late Winter season. Plenty of heartwarming here to melt whatever is left of your icy weather blues.