It’s not often that I can get my husband to watch a movie that doesn’t have flesh eating zombies or car chases. “Chick flicks” are not his thing. Most of the time I end up sitting alone in a theater or in front of my TV crying in my popcorn. Occasionally, because he loves me, my husband will relent and tag along with me. Most likely everything that was at the theater that day had dancing sponges or (heaven forbid) singing teenagers.

When The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel came out I didn’t have to grovel and beg too much to get Mr. B to go. Why? The stellar cast and the setting, exotic India. These days it’s hard to find a movie featuring a older cast searching for romance. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel delivered a heartwarming story that we both could relate to: people embarking on the second chapter of life and a young couple starting their first chapter of their story. Needless-to-say, and to my surprise, Mr. B loved the movie and when news of the THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL was coming to theaters we were delighted! Not only is the gang from the first movie back, Richard Gere (SIGH) is joining the cast as Guy. I didn’t have to do too much convincing to coax my husband into going this time.

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Here is a synopsis of the film provided by Fox Searchlight:

#LOVEBLOOMS AT THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL IN THEATERS MARCH 6!

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it’s making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy – posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the demands of a traditional Indian wedding threaten to engulf them all, an unexpected way forward presents itself.

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Watch the trailer here:

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And Now for the Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Giveaway!

To celebrate the March 16th opening of THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, Fox Searchlight has given me the opportunity to give away to one lucky winner a $50 Visa gift card to inspire your next move to help love bloom plus a Hotel Keychain.
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Enter to win (US residents only, please)! Entries accepted through midnight EST March 8, 2015; random winner will be drawn March 9, 2015 and notified by email.

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Prizing courtesy of Fox Searchlight
Open to US mailing addresses only

Disclosure: I received compensation for publishing this preview and giveaway; anecdotes and opinions are my own.