The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a lot like the building of its title: ramshackle, pieced together from different eras and—ultimately—very charming. Solidly directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) from a workman-like screenplay by Oliver Parker, the film follows a handful of elderly Brits fleeing their home country to spend their golden years in the promised affluence of an Indian retirement community, only to find the place creakier of bone than they are, with the added difficulty of negotiating a new culture. The film’s a travelogue of sorts, with rom-com overtones and sitcom situations—it’s superficiality is both comforting and ultimately damning, though the company is certainly worth the price of admission. Judi Dench holds it all together as a widow blogging about her experiences. Bill Nighy is a dashing and distracted leading man. The heart of the film belongs to Tom Wilkinson searching for the male lover he left behind in his 20s. And Maggie Smith—whom it’s so nice to see in a contemporary setting—can detonate a laugh line with surgical precision and/or a withering glance. She’s an international treasure able to wring comedy and more from some very tired shenanigans. Anglophiles—I’m one—will highly enjoy it. Opens May 4. 3/5 stars —Dan Loughry

First Position

First time documentary director Bess Kargman trained her camera on six competitors in the Youth America Grand Prix, which can make or break the dreams of child and teen would-be Black Swans (minus the psychosis, hopefully). Her subjects include Joan Sebastian, a 16-year-old (and quite obviously gay) Colombian who left his tiny village for New York City at great expense and sacrifice to his family; the adopted Michaela, 14, who must not only dance well but overcome the perception that “blacks can’t do ballet”; and Rebecca, 17, a bubbly white girl who typically goes by “Princess.” Kargman structures her well-shot film in relatively straightforward fashion, shifting between subjects. However, despite a few bits of ballet world drama and insight (these kids’ feet take a serious beating!), and the subjects’ likeability and genuine talent, she doesn’t manage to create much tension or a particularly compelling narrative. There are many missed opportunities—why isn’t there more interaction with the kids’ instructors, who are pretty strong personalities/characters from the delicious glimpses we do see?—and composer Chris Hajian’s sappy score seems like a desperate attempt to compensate, particularly during the bizarrely limp climactic awards sequence during the finals. Hopefully some of these amazing young dancers will be seen on stages rather than screens soon. Opens May 4. 2/5 stars —Lawrence Ferber

God Bless America
Starring Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr, Melinda Page Hamilton

Fed up with all the cruel exploitation and obnoxiousness he sees on TV and its effect on people around him, including his own bratty daughter, divorced middle-aged Syracuse milquetoast Frank (Murray) snaps when delivered the one-two punch of being fired and being diagnosed with a brain tumor. But rather than commit suicide as he plans, he first stalks and murders a reality show’s monstrously spoiled teenager, attracting the attention of a loner classmate, Roxy (Barr, in excited Ellen Page mode), who’s also fed up and ready to go on a rampage. In examining and satirizing today’s media and pop culture landscape, comedian-turned-filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait (World’s Greatest Dad) lampoons everything from conservative FOX blowhards to Fred Phelps to TMZ and American Idol—which often deviate so little from their already over-the-top sources there’s barely a difference. While it’s fun to see this pair (whom at times bring to mind Rainn Wilson and the real Ellen Page in the Kick-Ass-esque Super) deliver bloody bullet-riddled vengeance to the likes of jerks who make phone calls in movie theaters, Fred’s lengthy tirades/monologues about what he hates grow redundant and tedious. Ironically, while earnest and promising in its concept, Goldthwait’s latest also ends up shrill and numbing. Opens May 11. 3/5 stars —Lawrence Ferber

I Wish
Starring Koki Maeda, Ohshiro Maeda, Jo Odagiri

Twelve-year-old Koichi (Maeda) lives within sight of an ash-spewing volcano in southern Japan’s Kagoshima with his mother and grandparents. His younger sibling, Ryunosuke (Maeda), lives in a different city, Hakata, with their aloof yet loving musician father. Obsessed with the new high-speed bullet trains that will soon join their respective towns, Koichi schemes to reunite with his brother—and, hopefully, with a wish made at the exact magical moment the lightning fast trains pass each other, his entire family. While this thin plot serves as a thread, Nobody Knows director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest is a sweet, good-natured, entertaining slice of life. An admittedly strange jangly pop/indie rock score helps drive along the scenes with Kore-eda’s spunky young stars—real-life brothers, the Maedas are known as a comedy team back home in Japan—and their elders, including a grandfather who works to perfect a sponge cake recipe. There are beautiful human moments and visuals throughout, capturing the Japanese locales and place and world these characters live in—particularly the bizarre juxtaposition of a town against an active volcano! I Wish does run a bit long, but ultimately pays off for both its likeable characters and us. Opens May 11. 4/5 stars —Lawrence Ferber