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Director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) takes us once more to the Marigold well, reuniting all the original cast members and throwing Richard Gere into the mix. Gere plays a mysterious American who may or may not be a financial inspector whose opinion could make or break the Marigold’s franchising to a second location. Judi Dench’s character is offered a new career, all while she tip-toes around a romance with Bill Nighy’s character. Meanwhile, Maggie Smith’s character is helping out the hotel’s young owner (Dev Patel) with advice on both business and romance. Patel and Tina Desai’s characters are engaged to be married and the film is headed toward a big wedding climax. Hey, you gotta love the blending of British acting royalty and Bollywood pizzazz. Like the first film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel deals with mortality, unrequited love, and seizing the day — the sort of things that could make another movie crumble under the weight of sentimentality. But never fear. Dame Maggie narrates this sequel, and you know that broad can smell a false note like a fart in a car.  With Celia Imrie and David Strathairn.