So the Oscars is over and there will be no more soapbox rants for a better world delivered by multi-millionaire actors waving little gold men. Not until next year anyway.

Cue the new, though March is not the best time for films as they won't be remembered when the nominations come around again. Still, it's not all bad as The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has opened reuniting the splendid senior cast of the first film with the addition of Richard Gere. Directed again by John Madden, Deborah Moggach's characters are all working in Jaipur. Douglas (unbeatable Bill Nighy) and Evelyn (Judi Dench) are still playing footsie with extreme caution, Madge (Celia Imrie) and Norman (Ronald Pickup) are running the bar at the expats' club and Muriel (Maggie Smith), warmed by the weather, is merrily co-managing the hotel for Sonny (Dev Patel).

Business is going so well that it's time to expand, which requires investment and a visit from a questionable hotel inspector - cue Top Gere.

It's rare that a film - let alone a sequel - opens with everyone in such a state of euphoria and gainful employment, but reflective thought, shared wisdom and a lot of misunderstandings swiftly follow delivered by a coterie of British stars who know how to work the screen.