A Look at Fackham Hall – A Brisk, Humorous Takeoff on Downton Which Is Pleasantly Throwaway.
It could be the notion of uncertain days in the air: subsequent to a lengthy span of dormancy, the spoof is enjoying a comeback. This summer witnessed the revival of this lighthearted genre, which, in its finest form, mocks the grandiosity of excessively solemn dramas with a torrent of pitched clichés, sight gags, and dumb-brilliant double entendres.
Unserious times, apparently, give rise to self-awarely frivolous, gag-packed, pleasantly insubstantial amusement.
The Newest Entry in This Goofy Resurgence
The latest of these silly send-ups arrives as Fackham Hall, a parody of Downton Abbey that needles the very pokeable airs of wealthy UK historical series. Co-written by UK-Irish comic Jimmy Carr and directed by Jim O'Hanlon, the film has plenty of source material to mine and wastes none of it.
Starting with a ludicrous start and culminating in a preposterous conclusion, this entertaining upper-class adventure packs each of its runtime with gags and sketches ranging from the juvenile to the truly humorous.
A Mimicry of Aristocrats and Servants
Much like Downton, Fackham Hall presents a caricature of very self-important the nobility and overly fawning help. The plot centers on the incompetent Lord Davenport (brought to life by an enjoyably affected Damian Lewis) and his anti-reading wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). Following the loss of their children in various unfortunate mishaps, their plans now rest on finding matches for their daughters.
One daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has secured the family goal of an engagement to the right kinsman, Archibald (a wonderfully unctuous Tom Felton). However after she pulls out, the burden shifts to the unmarried elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), considered a "dried-up husk of a woman" and and possesses dangerously modern beliefs regarding female autonomy.
Its Comedy Succeeds
The parody achieves greater effect when joking about the stifling social constraints forced upon early 20th-century women – a topic frequently explored for earnest storytelling. The trope of proper, coveted ladylike behavior offers the best material for mockery.
The storyline, as one would expect from a deliberately silly spoof, is of lesser importance to the gags. Carr delivers them coming at a consistently comedic pace. Included is a murder, a bungled inquiry, and an illicit love affair featuring the plucky thief Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.
A Note on Lighthearted Fun
The entire affair is in the spirit of playful comedy, but that very quality has limitations. The amplified foolishness characteristic of the genre can wear after a while, and the mileage in this instance diminishes in the space between sketch and a full-length film.
At a certain point, one may desire to return to a realm of (at least a modicum of) coherence. Nevertheless, it's necessary to admire a genuine dedication to this type of comedy. If we're going to amuse ourselves to death, we might as well find the humor in it.