May 10, 2012 in GENRES
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
RYAN: I thought the trailer for this movie looked kinda cute and I’m all for the great cast – especially Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Dame Judi Dench.
CAROLINE: I get why you’re singling out Maggie and Bill – they were both in Harry Potter… What about Dame Judi?
RYAN: I just love her. Remember Notes on a Scandal?
CAROLINE: Honey, of course! That movie’s fantastic. How was this one?
RYAN: Pretty fair. It’s a senior rom com; a romantic comedy for the over 65 set. To be blunt, a movie for old people.
CAROLINE: [laughs’ By all means, be blunt.
RYAN: The casting is good and the script is infused with enough British sensibility and humor to be enjoyable.
CAROLINE: I feel a ‘but’ coming on…
RYAN: Yes, but it’s very cliche and really only plays to the target audience. Dev Patel is in there with a storyline of his own to try to balance things out a bit and even that didn’t really work for me.
CAROLINE: Yeah cliche is really a killer in a romantic comedy.
RYAN: India, meanwhile, looks pretty in the film. Basically a bunch of senior citizens from England head off to India to retire at this supposedly gorgeous hotel which turns out to be a dump and then there’s epiphanies galore inspired by that.
CAROLINE: It’s adapted from a book.
RYAN: It might have been a better book.
CAROLINE: Did you hate it?
RYAN: Not at all. It has some merit. There are quite a few funny lines and some tender moments but overall I don’t think anyone needs to run out to see this movie.
CAROLINE: What about renting it?
RYAN: Well the audience I screened this with was appropriately packed with the right age-range for this film and they were rolling with laughter so I’d suggest it as a rental for those who are inclined to see it. Otherwise, I’d say skip it.
— RATING — 