THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (PG-13) Several British retirees—Evelyn (Judi Dench), a recent widow; Graham (Tom Wilkinson), a gay ex-judge; aging ladies' man Norman (Ronald Pickup); vivacious divorcée Madge (Celia Imrie); ex-housekeeper Muriel (Maggie Smith); and longtime married couple Douglas (Bill Nighy) and Jean (Penelope Wilton)—journey to India to restart their lives. None of them knew each other beforehand, but they've all taken the risk to relocate to India after seeing the same advertisement for a luxury hotel specifically devoted to older people. Once at their new home in Jaipur, the reality of their situation is clear: the place is a dump. The hotel's fast-talking and eternally optimistic owner, Sonny (Dev Patel), does what he can to keep everyone's spirits high. Some of the guests, like Evelyn, Graham and Douglas, thrive in their new roles. Others though, such as Madge and Jean, have a more difficult time.

Is the idea of suffering through another summer blockbuster season featuring power-mad millionaires and geeky teenagers with tastes for spandex and vigilante justice depressing you? Don't worry, since director John Madden (Mrs. Brown, Shakespeare in Love) has made a movie for you. Based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is breezy, witty entertainment filled with one of the best casts you'll see all year. Dench, Wilkinson and Smith unsurprisingly get the meatiest scenes to work with, but Nighy is a master of droll coolness and he steals every scene he's in. That's nothing new for him. Even when he acts in junk like Underworld, the man stands tall. Wilkinson's storyline involving his search for an old lover he hasn't seen in decades is quietly moving, but Madden can't help but schlock it up with sentimentality. The storyline deserves its own movie, instead of being crammed into this one where its emotional power is weakened because it's forced to share the spotlight.

But those are minor faults. There's not a lot of joy in contemporary movies and there's plenty to be found here, even when the storylines get emotionally complicated and removed from the initial romanticism. It's just all done with a light touch. Also, thankfully, the portrayal of India is not some idiotic travelogue fetishizing the country. It feels exhilarating, though also difficult. Ultimately, there's much to savor at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, even if some of the rooms are a bit musty.