What Everyone Expected: A lazy, cash-in sequel that pretty much just recycled the formula of the original smash hit Brit comedy, throwing in Richard Gere to help the international grosses and basically hoping for the best. There's not much reason for it to exist, so why would it be any good at all, right? What It Was: Well, the filmmakers get some points from the outset by coming up with one of the most hilarious sequel titles in quite some time. Nobody needed another Exotic Marigold Hotel movie, but it turned out to be a pleasantly disciplined sequel, moving the loveable old characters on in an emotionally resonant and frequently hilarious manner. True to its name, it's not quite up to the high standard of the original movie, but it's got beautiful Indian scenery porn to lust over, Maggie Smith continuing to be a hilariously cantankerous old racist, an entertaining Richard Gere performance, and a surprisingly thoughtful, even rather dark ending that defies the typical conventions of the "coming of old age comedy".
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
