Spoiler-Free Review:
Downton Abbey is a movie continuation of the series that aired on PBS in recent years. All the cast has returned for the film, but even with a runtime of 2 hours, 2 minutes, not everyone has a chance to shine. It’s a very large cast of characters. Thanks to a good script, the story flows as you’d want it to, with one or two predictable moments.
This one is for the fans of the show. While it is essentially a movie that must stand on its own (and it does), many of the nuances and relationships play out well, and can be appreciated by longtime fans.
If you are a fan of the show, or know someone who is, it’s worth the trip. Not many people saw it at the screening (I comprised half of the audience), but fans will find it quite satisfying, and it leaves the story open to more such films in the future, if they choose to make them.
Standard Review (with minor plot spoilers):
While touring Yorkshire, King George V (Simon Jones), and Queen Mary (Geraldine Jones) have announced they will visit Downton for one day on their trip. This sends the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dochery) into a tizzy. So much to do, so little time to prepare. Lady Mary approaches Carson (Jim Carter), who has retired as Head Butler, to return as the preparations are not going well.
As the big day approaches, various members of the Royal Staff arrive, to lay out a list of how the day will go, effectively replacing the entire Downton staff. This angers the existing staff…well, perhaps that’s not the most British way to say it say. Instead, perhaps they found the orders a tad irksome, since the staff will not be able to perform any noticeable duties while the Royals are there. Fortunately, Mr. Bates and his wife Anna (Brendan Coyle and Joanne Froggat) have devised a cunning plan to deal with that…
Several new characters are introduced along the way, including cousin Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton), who is traveling with the Queen, becomes a formidable foil for Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith). There’s money involved, and…I’ll stop there. Suffices to say that the new characters add intrigue to the adventure.
As is the case with many movie adaptations of TV series, studio heads get the bright idea to introduce new writers to the mix. Fortunately, this is not one of them. Julian Fellowes returns, and is up to the task. The movie flows with a flair akin to any of Robert Altman’s films, jumping from story to story without too much in the way of setup. It’s a large cast of characters. This is where the fans will be satisfied, and the uninitiated might become a little confused. Established relationships are a vital part of the movie, and this movie only enhances the tale.
Downton Abbey has been a successful show. It’s a bit melodramatic at times, but not overly so. The same is true for the movie. Once some story elements are revealed, the film has a tendency to become a tad predictable, but it is by the strength of the script and the actors that this movie makes its way through those supposed difficulties.
If you are a fan of the TV series, I’d say this is a must see. If not, but you will be attending with someone who is, you should go, as well. Afterwards, you can grill that someone for hours to get all of the backstory you would want. Glad to say that I recommend this movie for that audience.
If you haven’t seen the show before now, you can always stream it, and by the time you’re finished, this movie will be available for streaming, as well.
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