Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey
Image source: Google

Rating: 1.5/5

Duration: 1 hour 62 minutes

Director: Michael Engler      

Genre: Drama

Release Date: 20.09.2019

Star Cast: Brendan Coyle, Allen Leech, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, David Haig, Geraldine James, Elizabeth McGovern, Kate Philips, Joanne Froggatt, Imelda Staunton, Matthew Goode, Maggie Smith, Lesley Nicol, Rob James-Collier, Raquel Cassidy, Phyllis Logan, Perry Fitzpatrick, Penelope Wilton, Tuppence Middleton, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sophie McShera  

Plot: The movie is set up in the year 1927, after two years of our final meeting with the Crawleys. The entire household enters into an immediate rush soon after learning about the visit of Queen Mary (Geraldine James) and King George V (Simon Jones). Mary is seen to be handling a considerable part of the preparation, whereas her parents Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) are looking on with wobbly amusement. The Crawleys, along with their dynamic staff, start preparing for one of the most significant events that are going to take place in a short time. Fortunately, the staff of the house, comprising of their domestic servants do not require much encouragement to get started with the arrangements, as they are already much more thrilled about the announcement. An imperial visit paid by the Queen and King of England would unleash intrigue, romance, and scandal, which will impact the upcoming future of Downtown.

Review: After four years of its final episode, Downton Abbey has returned for the last show. Although the fans might be happy to see their favourite characters once again for some more hours, yet the audience will want to question as to why the series was turned into a movie. The movie is just no good than a mere extension with some additional helicopter shots. The entire thing appears bare.

The characters of the movie end up spending too much time in applauding and pampering the regal family, and this barely leaves any time for the plot. The film seems to be busy with multiple subplots, which mainly exist for ensuring that all the actors get enough screentime. However, a large number of subplots is not arranged in a dramatically satisfying way. Placed prominently on the poster of the film, Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) receives only ten minutes screentime and speaks few lines just before the movie ends.

Keeping in mind that Downtown Abbey is quite famous for its unearthed secrets, ghastly tragedies, and forbidden romances, the movie seems like an uneventful affair. It is too much concerned with putting in multiple wish-fulfilment segments. The film has some sudden eruptions of conflicts, which are quickly resolved and very easily erased out of memory. Even the scenes of romance seem very abrupt.

Downton Abbey manifests the ruling class's celebration. It does not include any subtle concepts. The movie does not have any substance to speak of. Although the writing was immensely sharp and dynamic, Downton Abbey failed to have any impact as a movie!