Fackham Hall Review – This Rapid-Fire, Funny Downton Abbey Spoof Which Is Pleasantly Lightweight.
Maybe the sense of uncertain days around us: subsequent to a lengthy span of dormancy, the parody is enjoying a comeback. The recent season witnessed the revival of this lighthearted genre, which, when done well, skewers the pretensions of excessively solemn genre with a barrage of heightened tropes, physical comedy, and stupid-clever puns.
Frivolous times, apparently, create an appetite for deliberately shallow, gag-packed, welcome light amusement.
A Recent Offering in This Silly Resurgence
The newest of these goofy parodies is Fackham Hall, a Downton Abbey spoof that needles the very pokeable airs of gilded UK historical series. The screenplay comes from UK-Irish comic Jimmy Carr and directed by Jim O'Hanlon, the feature finds ample of material to work with and wastes none of it.
Opening on a ludicrous start and culminating in a preposterous conclusion, this enjoyable upper-class adventure packs each of its hour and a half with puns and routines running the gamut from the puerile up to the genuinely funny.
A Mimicry of The Gentry and Staff
Much like Downton, Fackham Hall presents a spoof of extremely pompous aristocrats and very obsequious help. The plot centers on the incompetent Lord Davenport (portrayed by a wonderfully pretentious Damian Lewis) and his anti-reading wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). Having lost their four sons in various unfortunate mishaps, their aspirations fall upon finding matches for their daughters.
The younger daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has accomplished the dynastic aim of betrothal to the appropriate kinsman, Archibald (a perfectly smarmy Tom Felton). Yet once she backs out, the onus transfers to the unmarried elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), considered an old maid already and and possesses unladylike ideas regarding female autonomy.
Its Comedy Works Best
The film fares much better when sending up the stifling expectations imposed on Edwardian-era females – a subject typically treated for self-serious drama. The stereotype of respectable, enviable femininity offers the best material for mockery.
The narrative thread, as befitting a deliberately silly parody, is of lesser importance to the gags. The co-writer delivers them maintaining an amiably humorous pace. There is a homicide, a farcical probe, and a forbidden romance featuring the plucky thief Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.
The Constraints of Lighthearted Fun
The entire affair is in lighthearted fun, but that very quality comes with constraints. The dialed-up absurdity inherent to parody can wear over time, and the entertainment value on this particular variety runs out in the space between sketch and a full-length film.
Eventually, one may desire to retreat to the world of (very slight) coherence. But, you have to applaud a genuine dedication to this type of comedy. If we're going to distract ourselves to death, we might as well see the funny side.