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Downton’s overstuffed royal knees up
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THE “Downton Abbey” movie isn’t exactly a movie. It’s more like another season of the popular show that’s been condensed to 90 minutes instead of eight hours.
Written by series creator Julian Fellowes, almost every character who made it out of the six season run alive is back for their big screen debut with a little arc and some lavish costume changes. But Michael Engler’s direction doesn’t bring any cinematic grandeur to this continuing story of a family and their servants. And Fellowes’ script has the impossible task of giving every character their own mini plot. Together it makes the movie a fairly shallow experience: All set dressing and nostalgia and some delicious Dowager Countess one-liners.
For “Downton” devotees, the crumbs might be enough. For anyone else just dropping in, however, “Downton Abbey” doesn’t stand on its own.
The tidy reason for this big reunion is that King George V and Queen Mary have decided to spend a night at Downton Abbey as part of a royal tour. It’s 1927 and the aristocratic class is continuing to question their place in a modernizing Britain, but there are just enough old traditions left that the news of this royal visit sends the estate into a tizzy. When the royal entourage descends, the downstairs staff is horrified to learn that they’ll be sitting on the sidelines for the visit. The royals travel with cooks, footmen, butlers, valets and dressers and this group is dismissive of the provincial Downton employees.
Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) even decides to enlist the help of their retired Butler Mr Carson (Jim Carson), when she feels like his successor Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier) isn’t equipped to handle this high-profile occasion. It’s one of many constructions that will leave you wondering whether fan service has gotten in the way of believable storytelling. Yes, it brings Carson back to Downton and allows Thomas to go off on his own adventure in town, but it’s hard to deny that this is one overstuffed movie.
That’s not to say that there aren’t good moments. There are, especially for those who miss the voyeurism of fancy dress evenings with the family and their helpers. As in the series, the Dowager is always a standout and at 84, Maggie Smith is as fierce as ever in bringing her to life. And it is always lovely spending time in such lush surroundings. But the movie could have benefited on a little focus and not so much fan service, especially considering how good all of the ensemble actors are in these roles. Perhaps that’s why Fellowes couldn’t choose just one. Besides, if the camera movements and swelling music cues are any indication, there is only real star anyway: Downton Abbey itself.
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