Andrew’s Verdict

There’s one thing the British know how to do well and that’s a rom-com. What a fantastic film and I say this in the knowledge that there will be people who disagree with that superlative. I came from a reasonably hard day of work and within 20 minutes of watching The Best Exotic, I was delighting at the wit of the script, I was calm and relaxed and laughing along with the crowded cinema as I watched the stories of British retirees coming to terms with their pasts and finding a new lease of life in India. The all-star cast including Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, together with Slumdog’s Dev Patel deliver a story that adeptly avoids cringe filled moments of cliché and has instead memorable lines abound. I stared out of the window this morning thinking of India and all of life; and at the cinema, I really wanted the Best Exotic to exist and this rag-tag bunch of characters to have their awakenings. I can’t help but believe that if all it takes to be pleasantly enlightened is a trip to India, to see its beautiful vibrant colours, and its smiling people, then the entire world would be a far better place if we all took that journey and spent some time reflecting on our lives.