The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (movie review)

Imagine what it would be like to pick up and move someplace totally different on the other side of the world. Now imagine that you're doing it when you're a retiree. That's the premise of the charming new movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The characters are a group of English seniors who end up moving, for various reasons, to India. Douglas invested his and his wife's savings in their daughter's internet startup--which failed to start up. Evelyn is a new widow who finds out that her husband was deeply in debt. Muriel was "in service" for one family for years till they replaced her with a younger model, leaving her with no one to help her when she needs hip surgery. Graham spent his youth in India and has been dying to go back. The performances were all good--particularly Judi Dench as Evelyn and Tom Wilkinson as Graham. And the story has some interesting messages--about not wanting to be treated as "old" just because you're not young anymore. And the advisability of living by the philosophy that when one door closes, another one opens--rather than being bitter about the misfortunes that befall you. The movie also gives you a good sense of the sights, sounds, colors, smells, and tastes of India as experienced by this intrepid group. It's a journey you'll enjoy taking with them.