The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a slightly superior upgrade upon the original

REVIEW: Most of your favourite past-it Brits are still living it largely for laughs and love in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Scene from the movie The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG)

Director : John Madden (Shakespeare in Love)

Starring : Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Richard Gere, Celia Imrie, Dev Patel.

Rating : ***

Another worthwhile booking for those who enjoyed their previous stay

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After The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel proved to be the breakout hit of 2012 all over the world, the makers of the obligatory sequel have wisely elected not to mess about with their winning formula.

In fact, whether by design or accident, the follow-up actually achieves a slight improvement upon the original in most of the departments that matter.

As a feelgood experience designed to do little more than put smiles on faces and minds on auto-pilot, this is a job well done.

However, better scripting this time around has allowed the franchise’s renowned ensemble cast to bring more to the table than just their well-earned reputations.

Brits return ... Judi Dench in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Rest assured not a lot has changed in the Marigold universe since your last stay. Most of your favourite past-it Poms are still living it largely for laughs and love in a rustic retirement hostel in the Indian city of Jaipur.

Matronly misanthrope Muriel Donnelly (a superb Maggie Smith) is now solidly entrenched as the business brains of all Marigold operations.

The young and enthusiastic manager Sonny (Dev Patel) is her boss in name only. Muriel is the one calling the shots and calling out any of the clientele who might be getting too big for their boots.

More importantly, Muriel is convinced the Marigold has the makings of a brand that can be extended across the whole state of Rajasthan, and has already attracted the interest of international investors.

Back together ... Celia Imrie as "Madge Hardcastle," Ronald Pickup as "Norman Cousins," Diana Hardcastle as "Carol," Judi Dench as "Evelyn Greenslade," Maggie Smith as "Muriel Donnely" and Bill Nighy as "Douglas Ainslie". Picture: Twentieth Century Fox

You’ll be hearing more from them later in the picture. In the meantime, you’re free to catch up with the most recent movements of all the other long-term residents of the Marigold.

Evelyn (Judi Dench) and Douglas (Bill Nighy) are still in denial about becoming a definite item, and they could come to regret their reluctance to give in to their obvious compatibility.

Especially now that Evelyn has been offered a dream job as a buyer for a major textiles company, and a dithering Douglas is yet to get around to ending his previous marriage.

New beginnings ... Lillete Dubey as "Mrs. Kapoor" and Richard Gere as "Guy". Picture: Twentieth Century Fox

Meanwhile, Norman (Ronald Pickup) and Carol (Diana Hardcastle) are experiencing fidelity issues, and Madge (Celia Imrie) is contemplating ending her racy romantic life after getting marriage proposals from two rich local gents.

With so much familiar ground to cover, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has little room for new names on its guest register.

The only addition worth mentioning is Richard Gere, playing an undercover hotel inspector.

The veteran American heart-throb has little to do but serve up some eye-candy to leering ladies of a certain age. If Gere was any more of a silver fox in this movie, he would be a hood ornament on a classic car.

*** for more reviews, news and updates, followLeigh PaatschonTwitter at @leighpaatschand onInstagram at leighpaatsch ***

Originally published as The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a slightly superior upgrade upon the original