Reasons to love The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: the cast; India looking beautiful; the warm, uplifting hug of a story; Richard Gere’s hair.

That brochure alone is worth the second trip to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and yet there is still more to enjoy in this sequel, in which Sonny’s hotel empire is expanding along with the number of OAPs flocking to live out their days in Jaipur.

There are laughs to be had, love to be found, and a lot to be said of making the most of the time you have with those you care about.

Catch up with characters you wished you could spend more time with in the first visit. Encouragingly, they are all still alive and are joined by some equally endearing newbies.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, David Strathairn, Richard Gere

DIRECTOR: John Madden

WRITER: Ol Parker

SYNOPSIS: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full and Sonny wants to expand with the help of an American investor. First though, he’ll have to deal with an undercover hotel inspector, his upcoming wedding, and his elderly guests getting into all kinds of mischief.