The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This is a perfectly enjoyable "take your mother to the movies" pick, but it would also make a fine "show the kids how it's done" selection. Leave it to the English to show Hollywood that a dramedy starring a who's who of seniors (at 59, Imrie is the youngest cast member) can be loads funnier, sweeter, and more romantic than the kind of forgettable fluff that passes for romcoms here week in and week out. The stellar cast (featuring both of the Downton Abbey grandes dames!) is fabulous, but what else would you expect from such a winning group of British thespians? Not only is it a delight to watch Smith play a narrow-minded, working-class woman for once, but it's also amazing to see Nighy, who often romances much younger actresses on screen, paired up with someone older than him.

The plot is admittedly thin, but that doesn't stop director John Madden from exploring the taboo issues of getting older: depression, sexuality, dissatisfaction, even death. But all of the transformations are captured in a way that's touching and humorous to witness. Audiences completely unaware or unappreciative of dry British humor may not "get" some of the subtler, genius lines, but the dialogue is full of rich, laugh-aloud lines. Take the sarcastic witticisms of snarky Mrs. Ainsley, who barks at her husband: "When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."