Reel Critics: ‘Second Best’? No, just as good

If you enjoyed the first “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” you will most certainly enjoy the newly released “Second Best” sequel. Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy joyfully revise their roles as ex-patriot Brits appreciating their low-cost retirement home in the offbeat Indian locale.

Dev Patel returns as the effervescent Sonny. He still bubbles over with enthusiasm for his hotel enterprise. Joining forces with Smith’s character, he seeks American venture capital to expand the family business. Richard Gere and David Strathairn join the cast to add some gravitas to their corporate interest in the exotic project.

Together, they all take the plot of the first movie to the next level. Light and lively, the old folks in the story turn it up a notch. They reveal more interesting aspects of their personal troubles and the quirks of elder life in a foreign land. The sharp humor and witty dialogue are just what the doctor ordered for moviegoers of a certain age.

—John Depko

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Re-program this ‘Chappie’

“Chappie” is the latest film by director Neill Blomkamp, who created the boldly futuristic actioners “District 9” and “Elysium.” This time around, he shows a softer side, but it’s not his best effort.

The city of Johannesburg keeps its crime rate low thanks to a fleet of police robots developed by Deon Wilson (Dev Patel) that has made his company hugely successful. Former soldier Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman) is trying to get his own robotic prototype, controlled by the human mind, into production but is repeatedly rejected by the CEO (Sigourney Weaver).

One of the police bots is damaged and assigned to the scrap heap, but Deon steals it to test a new artificial intelligence program that will enable human thoughts and emotions. “Chappie” is in turn stolen by some rough criminals who want to use it to steal and kill.

Voiced by Sharlto Copley (a Blomkamp veteran), the newly reprogrammed Chappie is childlike and trusting, and for a few minutes, we’re watching a retread of “Short Circuit.” But soon he’s taught to curse, swagger and inflict serious bodily harm by his captors. This is definitely not a movie for kiddies.

Patel is solid (and much less annoying than in “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”) as he tries to imbue Chappie with a sense of decency and artistic aspirations. Jackman is given the thankless task of playing the dastardly villain dressed like the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. We got a mean one here.

What could have been an interesting commentary about ethics and corporate greed devolves into ultra-violent mayhem. “Chappie” strains credibility even as it strains our eyes.

—Susanne Perez

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.