THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, a cheeky and charming slice-of-lives winner from 2011, was directed by John Madden (Shakespeare In Love, Proof), written by Ol Parker (Imagine Me and You, Now Is Good), taken from Deborah Moggach’s novel “These Foolish Things”, a 281-page comedy of manners.

“Initially you’re overwhelmed. But gradually you realize it’s like a wave. Resist, and you’ll be knocked over. Dive into it, and you’ll swim out the other side.”

A disparate clutch of Brit pensioners gamble on their choice of a retirement home, advertised as ‘exotic’, and located 4,219 miles/6,791 km off in India’s northwestern state of Rajasthan. Once arrived at their new digs in the city of Jaipur, they’re met with manic enthusiasm by ‘Sonny Kapoor’ (Dev Patel), the Best’s young manager. His flailing hands are kept windmilling by his desperate attempt to impress lovely ‘Sunaina’ (lovely Tina Desai) and fend off his harping mother.

The guest list: widowed housewife ‘Evelyn’ (Judi Dench, 76), taken by India’s kaleidoscope; former judge ‘Graham’ (Tom Wilkinson, 62), long-closeted and hoping to locate his bygone flame; kind-hearted ‘Douglas’ (Bill Nighy, 61) and ‘Jean’ (Penelope Wilton, 64), his spiteful wife; former housekeeper and wasp-witted crank ‘Muriel’ (Maggie Smith, 76); ‘Madge’ (Celia Imrie), looking to score a rich husband or style-keeper; and ‘Norman’ (Ronald Pickup, 70) a lonely lothario—he-thinks.

“What’s the use of a marriage when nothing is shared?”

The script, while consistently funny, isn’t surprising in how it turns out, but what is a welcome surprise is how very well it’s played out by the cast of estimable pros, a daunting lineup of vets who can twist nuance out of every line and movement. Everyone gets a chance (or several) to shine, and they’re matched by Patel, 20, fresh from one huge win (Slumdog Millionaire) and one big woof (The Last Airbender) who’s a whirlwind of energy and timing.

JEAN: “And home in time for our fortieth wedding anniversary. We haven’t quite decided how to mark the occasion.”  MADGE: “Perhaps a minute’s silence.”

The residence they work out their issues in is an actual (considerably refurbished) place that has been around since 1620,a century before the British seized divided India by its multiple throats.  Thomas Newman measures out a caressing music score, and as demanded, the color scheme in the back & fore grounds is appropriately riotous.

Location-lensed by Ben Davis (Layer Cake, Tamara Drewe) in Jaipur and Udaipur for $10,000,000, while only tagging 71st place in the States and Canada its global tally brought a satisfying $136,836,000, sufficient to generate a merry sequel released four years later.

With Lillette Dubey (Sonny’s overbearing mama), Sid Makkar, Diana Hardcastle and Seema Azmi (touching as Smith’s “untouchable” maid). 122 minutes.

* “Everything will be all right in the end… if it’s not all right then it’s not yet the end“. Those bombarded by noise & fury in 2011 could take heart that nestled below the year’s witches, car racers, spies, pirates and vampires were some morsels for grownups who didn’t always want their pulse perched on panic: these hope-seeking hotel habitants were joined by the wonderers of The Descendants, We Bought A Zoo, Midnight In Paris, Larry Crowne and The Tree Of Life. All is not lost. Yet.