Back in 1984, Tim Burton produced a stop-motion short film entitled “Frankenweenie,” in which a boy brings his dog back to life after the beloved pet is killed by a car. It’s a charming piece, and available in the extra content on DVDs of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Now, almost twenty years later, Burton has returned to that story and expanded it into a feature-length film of the same title.
There’s something uniquely charming to American sensibilities about older British folks. Add to that innate charm an exotic destination (India), a timely topic (outsourcing), and a cast of brilliant character actors, and you are set. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” takes things one step further by going beyond its ingredients to be a deeply human film. Yes, it’s charming, heartwarming , and funny, but it sneaks in piercing looks at our common humanity and at life itself.