Downton Abbey review

DOWNTON ABBEY: 

BIG SCREEN VERSION IS WELL-MADE BUT MOSTLY JUST FOR FANS OF THE TV SERIES!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** ½ out of 4

FOCUS FEATURES

Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Allen Leech, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, and Phyllis Logan in Downton Abbey

            The beloved PBS television series comes to the big screen in Downton Abbey, a movie serving as a sequel to the original show which was first announced shortly after it ended. The show has a huge following that can almost be described as the period piece soap-opera equivalent of Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead with many other shows and movies referencing it and viewers everywhere growing attached to its ensemble cast of characters. 

            I unfortunately was not one of those people, while I’ve seen bits and pieces of Downton Abbey before I have never actually sat down and watched an episode, not that I think it’s a bad show it just didn’t appeal to me that much. However, when the movie was announced I was a little curious to see how it turns out and maybe it could stand on its own as a movie…not quite.

            The Downton Abbey movie is strictly for fans of the show and it isn’t likely to win over any newcomers, but the production design, strong ensemble cast, and at times witty dialogue are admirable enough for a casual moviegoer. The movie itself is good but it probably would have been better if I had seen the show. 

            Set after the events of the series, the Earl and Countess of Grantham Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville-Iris, Paddington 1 and 2, Breathe) Cora (Elizabeth McGovern-Ragtime, Once Upon a Time in America, The Wings of the Dove) receive a letter from Buckingham Palace announcing that King George V (Simon Jones-The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Radio and TV series), Brazil, Miracle on 34^th Street (1994)) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James-The Jewel in the Crown, Gandhi, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)) will be coming to Downton Abbey along with their daughter Princess Mary (Kate Phillips-Wolf Hall, Peaky Blinders, The Crown). As the house prepares for their arrival Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery-Hanna, Anna Karenina (2012), Non-Stop) enlists the help of retired butler Charles Carson (Jim Carter-Shakespeare in Love, Cranford, My Week with Marilyn) to look over the preparations. 

            However, when the royal staff arrives led by Mr. Wilson (David Haig-Doctor Who, Florence Foster Jenkins, Killing Eve) and starts taking over duties at Downton, it causes resentment from the house’s staff and must take back control for Downton’s honor. Meanwhile, a bitter rivalry between Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith-Gosford Park, Harry Potter franchise, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 1 and 2) and Robert’s first cousin once removed Lady Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton-Vera Drake, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Pirates!: Band of Misfits) begins when Violet learns that Lady Maud is Queen Mary’s lady-in-waiting after having a falling out with her family over who inherits Lady Maud’s estate. 

            

            The film also stars Laura Carmichael (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, A United Kingdom, Marcella) as Edith Pelham, Brendan Coyle (The Weir, North & South, Mary Queen of Scots) as John Bates, Kevin Doyle (The Lakes, The Crimson Field, Happy Valley) as Joseph Moseley, Michael C. Fox (Good People, Dunkirk, Endeavour) as Andy Parker, Joanne Froggatt (Coronation Street, In Our Name, Dark Angel) as Anna Bates, Matthew Goode (Match Point, Watchmen, The Imitation Game) as Henry Talbot, Harry Hadden-Paton (The Deep Blue Sea, The Crown, The Little Stranger) as Bertie Pelham, Robert James-Collier (Coronation Street, Mercenaries, The Ritual) as Thomas Barrow, Allen Leech (Cowboys & Angels, Rome, Bohemian Rhapsody) as Tom Branson, Phyllis Logan (Another Time, Another Place, Lovejoy, Secrets & Lies) as Elsie Hughes, Sophie McShera (Waterloo Road, Cinderella (2015), The Personal History of David Copperfield) as Daisy Mason, Leslie Nicol (The Practice, Sarah & Duck, Supernatural) as Beryl Patmore, Penelope Wilton (Shaun of the Dead, Pride & Prejudice (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Isobel, Mark Addy (The Thin Blue Line, The Full Monty, Game of Thrones) as Mr. Bakewell, Max Brown (Crossroads (TV series), Beauty & the Beast (2012 TV series), The Royals) as Richard Ellis, Stephen Campbell Moore (Amazing Grace, The History Boys, Goodbye Christopher Robin) as Major Chetwode, Richenda Carey (Jane Eyre (1997), Separate Lies, Criminal Justice) as Mrs. Webb, Andrew Havill (The King’s Speech, The Imitation Game, My Cousin Rachel) as Henry, Viscount Lascelles, Susan Lynch (Waking Ned, Nora, From Hell) as Miss Lawton, and Tuppence Middleton (Trance, The Imitation Game, Sense8) as Lucy Smith.

            Overall, Downton Abbey will give fans of the long-running TV series a welcoming reunion with all the characters they know and love but with an overabundance of characters wandering around the castle hallways and lack of context of who they are or events that occurred on the show, the movie will likely leave newcomers lost. It’s not impossible to watch the Downton Abbey movie without knowledge of the show but this film really banks on viewers who are already familiar with the show and throws you right in the middle of it which isn’t bad, but it makes it harder to watch as a standalone film.

            With that said, the movie is at least admirable for newcomers, even though I wasn’t really getting into the story that much and had a hard time keeping track of all the characters, I enjoyed the production design, sets, costumes, acting, and writing. Maggie Smith in particular made me laugh almost every time she was on-screen through her performance, line delivery, and dry sense of humor, I didn’t see a character I saw Maggie Smith playing Maggie Smith and I’m okay with that.

            Sadly, I can’t recommend the Downton Abbey movie to someone who has not seen the show (like me), there are things to appreciate on a production design level and with some of the performances by the cast but unless you know the characters and events from the series YOU WILL BE LOST! It’s best to come into the movie with at least some knowledge of the characters and premise of the show, but if you already are a fan of Downton Abbey then you will be greeted with a nostalgic and royal welcome.