The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Review - 3 Stars

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” gets a leg up on the movie universe thanks to a wonderful cast of seasoned actors, including Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith—perfectly cast in this story of a group of broke British retirees who “outsource” their retirement to a resort/retirement home in India.  Once they make the journey reality intervenes:  they’re a bunch of old people living in a crumbling hotel.  But gradually we learn their stories and gradually they accept the bad with some unexpected good.  Judi Dench holds the story together as she writes about her experience with her newly acquired computer skills.  I especially enjoyed seeing Penelope Wilton (seen most recently in “Downton Abby” on PBS) as the unhappy wife of Bill Nighy.  And this grand cast works wonderfully with Dev Patel (of “Slumdog Millionaire) as the over optimistic hotel manager.  “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” doesn’t break any new ground.   It fills a need for grown up programming—the kind of movie that has makes Landmark Theaters successful.  That’s a good thing.  Does it deliver what it promises?  Senior story. Is it entertaining?  A delight.  Is it worth the price of admission?  For grown ups.