Boasting the likes of Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie and Ronald Pickup, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel could do deemed The Expendables of mature, well-regarded British screen actors. As a knock-on effect, John Madden’s film (which is adapted from Deborah Moggach’s novel with the help of screenwriter Ol Parker) will inevitably be dismissed by younger viewers as something for “the older crowd” only. But while this is certainly the target audience, given that the plot sees a group of mismatched Brits abandon the UK for a more exotic retirement, there’s just enough light charm and flickers of spirituality to make it worthwhile. Yes, the characters and their arcs are sign-posted from the start, but this bunch (and Dev Patel, who manages to hold his own) are classy enough to elevate the predictable and generic material into watchable territory.
