Ol Parker

Not quite as much fun as the first film but good enough brainless singing fun for 2 hours which will make you smile.

We enjoyed this very much, both watching for the first time, and again eight years later. A diverse group of retired Brits (with an all-star cast including Judi Dench and Maggie Smith) travel to a hotel in India, which is a long way from being the luxury accommodation described in its advertising.

Dev Patel is brilliant as the enthusiastic hotel manager Sonny, and the whole is an entertaining, often amusing but also poignant and thought-provoking film. India is portrayed as colourful, loud, show more chaotic at times, but with many valuable principles, while the Brits have a range of hang-ups, biases and (in a couple of cases) prejudices.

Definitely recommended.

Longer review here: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel-dev-p... show less

An excellent sequel to the first 'Exotic Marigold Hotel' film (which really needs to be watched before this). Judi Dench and Maggie Smith head an all-start cast of British actors, with the addition of Richard Gere as a token American. Dev Patel is superb as the enthusiastic but rather naive and insecure Sonny, whose idea it was originally to have a hotel for long-term elderly residents in India.

Some gentle humour, some poignancy, a lot of subplots and the vibrancy of Indian markets and show more parties. Superbly done. I didn't entirely follow one or two of the details but it didn't much matter. Definitely recommended.

Longer review here: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-second-best-exotic-margold-hotel... show less

A Christmas film inside a Christmas story told by great Aunt Ruth (Maggie Smith) to three motherless children. Henry Lawfull is excellent as Nikolas, a boy living with his woodcutter father, who goes on a journey to find Elfhelm, land of the elves.

Some tension and mild violence in a very well-made film which also has some humour. Lots about the spirit of Christmas - which was unknown to Nikolas - and some thought-provoking commentary. Rated PG, which seems about right. Some of the tension show more and discussion of grief (and loss) may be too much for younger or sensitive children.

Longer review: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-boy-called-christmas-henry-lawfull... show less