Richard Gere, who is turning into the kind of Old Charmer that Cary Grant was, provides some new glamour and finds romance in an unexpected - not to say unlikely - quarter. Everyone - even Sonny's cross-patch 'Mummy-ji' and marathon moaner Penelope Wilton, making a surprise return - is nicer than before. Niceness is somewhat overdone in this overproduced - over-egged - sequel. The first film had a pleasing undertone: the idea that these dear old duffers were finding a place to live rather than die (that said, the Tom Wilkinson character is much missed). These are, still, a lovable bunch of characters to spend two hours with, but - like the cast of many a flagging sitcom - they are not well served by a flimsy script full of contrivances.
SECOND BEST feels a bit second hand. Some of the performances - particularly Bill Nighy and Ronald Pickup - are undercooked as well as underwritten. Even Dame Judi seems to be floundering: it must be hard to take such an awfully nice character to new heights or depths. Dame Maggie's valiant attempt to give the final reel a bit of gravitas is swamped by Sunny and Sunaina's fully OTT Bollywood wedding.
Less can sometimes be More, as we know. More, in the case of THE SECOND BEST MARIGOLD HOTEL, is - sad to say - definitely Less.
SECOND BEST feels a bit second hand. Some of the performances - particularly Bill Nighy and Ronald Pickup - are undercooked as well as underwritten. Even Dame Judi seems to be floundering: it must be hard to take such an awfully nice character to new heights or depths. Dame Maggie's valiant attempt to give the final reel a bit of gravitas is swamped by Sunny and Sunaina's fully OTT Bollywood wedding.
Less can sometimes be More, as we know. More, in the case of THE SECOND BEST MARIGOLD HOTEL, is - sad to say - definitely Less.