Like many people, I loved the TV show Downton Abbey. I tried to keep my expectations in check for the film figuring it would be hard for it to live up the TV show and so it was.
I’m going to approach this blog assuming that if you have enough interest in this film to read this blog, it’s because you’re familiar with the TV show. If you’re not, stop reading now because this film is barely for people who loved the TV show so it’s certainly not for people who didn’t.
The storyline could have worked - the King and Queen are coming to Downton to visit! - but it was hammed up in such an excruciating way that I really found it very difficult to enjoy. Mr Bates said very little which was a plus but Mrs Bates was suddenly plotting a coup against the King and Queen’s own staff and the whole thing was just implausible and silly. Yes, yes, I know it’s a drama and these things are often implausible but trust me, they really stretched the friendship on this one. I’m talking people being drugged and locked in rooms, ok?!
The Crawley family played to type of course. The arrival of a cousin of Robert’s (Imelda Staunton/Delores Umbridge) brought a little intrigue but really only a little. Carson comes out of retirement (I was reminded how insufferable he got as the show went on) which frees up Barrow to have an interesting mini subplot but it was such a small part of the film it just wasn’t enough to suck me in. For me there was too many storylines left too undercooked - do less and do it better, I reckon.
The film is set up in a way which so obviously leads to another film that when it finished I just thought, no, please don’t do that. You’re ruining a great thing.
I saw this with a friend who is also a Downton Abbey TV show fan and we were completely on the same page about how disappointing it was and both thought it’s worthy of only 2 stars out of 5. Some proper critics have been a little more generous giving it 3 stars but it doesn’t get much better than that. In the interests of balance, here’s a three star review in The Guardian and here’s a summary of early reviews if you want a broad spectrum.
Downton Abbey opens 12 September and is rated PG. Trailer here.