The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: John Madden

Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Richard Gere

Running time: 122 minutes

In this sequel to the original film made in 2012, the owner of Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Sonny Kapoor, is trying to secure some help from an American company to open a second hotel in India. He is also about to get married to his fiancée. Unfortunately for Sonny, an old friend of his is back in town and their rivalry picks up where it left off, complicating things for the young man filled with big dreams.

Unlike the first film, the sequel focuses more on Sonny than on the residents of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and there lied most of the problem for me. In small doses, the Sonny character was bearable. As the main focus, I wanted to punch him 15 minutes in. Thankfully, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith were back again, and their presence managed to give this film a little shot of charm in the arm; it needed much more to make it good.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is mish-mash of boring nonsense that drags on and on. I would pass on it, if the choice had to be made again.

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