Fackham Hall Review – A Fast-Paced, Witty Parody of Downton Abbey That's Refreshingly Ephemeral.
Maybe the notion of uncertain days around us: subsequent to a lengthy span of dormancy, the spoof is staging a resurgence. This summer saw the revival of this lighthearted genre, which, when done well, mocks the self-importance of overly serious genres with a torrent of heightened tropes, sight gags, and ridiculously smart wordplay.
Frivolous times, it seems, create an appetite for self-awarely frivolous, gag-packed, pleasantly insubstantial fun.
The Newest Entry in This Goofy Resurgence
The most recent of these goofy parodies is Fackham Hall, a Downton Abbey spoof that pokes fun at the easily mockable self-importance of gilded English costume epics. The screenplay comes from stand-up performer Jimmy Carr and overseen by Jim O'Hanlon, the movie finds ample of material to mine and exploits every bit of it.
From a absurd opening and culminating in a ludicrous finish, this amusing upper-class adventure fills each of its 97 minutes with gags and sketches ranging from the puerile to the truly humorous.
A Mimicry of Upstairs, Downstairs
In the vein of Downton, Fackham Hall delivers a pastiche of very self-important aristocrats and overly fawning help. The story revolves around the incompetent Lord Davenport (played by an enjoyably affected Damian Lewis) and his anti-reading wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). After losing their four sons in various unfortunate mishaps, their aspirations now rest on marrying off their offspring.
The junior daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has secured the aristocratic objective of betrothal to the appropriate kinsman, Archibald (a wonderfully unctuous Tom Felton). But when she pulls out, the burden falls upon the single elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), who is a spinster of a woman" and who harbors radically progressive ideas concerning women's independence.
Its Laughs Works Best
The parody fares much better when joking about the oppressive expectations placed on pre-war females – a subject typically treated for earnest storytelling. The trope of idealized femininity provides the richest comic targets.
The storyline, as one would expect from an intentionally ridiculous send-up, is of lesser importance to the bits. The writer keeps them arriving at an amiably humorous rate. Included is a homicide, a farcical probe, and a forbidden romance featuring the roguish street urchin Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.
The Constraints of Lighthearted Fun
It's all in the spirit of playful comedy, though that itself imposes restrictions. The dialed-up foolishness of a spoof might grate over time, and the mileage on this particular variety expires at the intersection of sketch and a full-length film.
After a while, you might wish to retreat to the world of (very slight) logic. Nevertheless, one must respect a genuine dedication to the craft. In an age where we might to entertain ourselves to death, we might as well laugh at it.
