Fackham Hall Review – This Brisk, Funny Downton Abbey Spoof That's Refreshingly Lightweight.

It could be the feeling of uncertain days around us: following a long period of dormancy, the parody is staging a comeback. This summer saw the re-emergence of this unserious film style, which, when done well, lampoons the pretensions of pompously earnest genre with a flood of heightened tropes, visual jokes, and stupid-clever puns.

Frivolous times, so it goes, create an appetite for self-awarely frivolous, laugh-filled, refreshingly shallow fun.

The Latest Addition in This Goofy Trend

The latest of these absurd spoofs comes in the form of Fackham Hall, a takeoff on the British period drama that jabs at the highly satirizable self-importance of opulent UK historical series. Co-written by stand-up performer Jimmy Carr and helmed by Jim O'Hanlon, the feature has a wealth of material to mine and wastes none of it.

Opening on a ludicrous start all the way to its outrageous finale, this entertaining upper-class adventure crams every one of its 97 minutes with jokes and bits ranging from the childish all the way to the genuinely funny.

A Mimicry of Upstairs, Downstairs

Similar to Downton, Fackham Hall presents a pastiche of overly dignified the nobility and very obsequious staff. The story focuses on the hapless Lord Davenport (played by a wonderfully pretentious Damian Lewis) and his anti-reading wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). Following the loss of their children in separate calamitous events, their plans fall upon securing unions for their two girls.

The younger daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has accomplished the dynastic aim of betrothal to the suitable close relative, Archibald (a wonderfully unctuous Tom Felton). Yet when she withdraws, the pressure falls upon the unmarried elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), considered an old maid at 23 and and holds radically progressive notions regarding female autonomy.

Its Laughs Succeeds

The spoof fares much better when joking about the oppressive norms placed on Edwardian-era women – a topic typically treated for earnest storytelling. The archetype of idealized womanhood provides the best comic targets.

The storyline, as one would expect from a purposefully absurd spoof, is secondary to the gags. The co-writer keeps them arriving at an amiably humorous rate. There is a homicide, a farcical probe, and an illicit love affair between the plucky pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.

Limitations and Lighthearted Fun

It's all in lighthearted fun, but that very quality imposes restrictions. The dialed-up foolishness characteristic of the genre may tire after a while, and the mileage in this instance runs out at the intersection of sketch and a full-length film.

At a certain point, you might wish to return to the world of (very slight) logic. Nevertheless, one must respect a genuine dedication to the artform. In an age where we might to amuse ourselves to death, let's at least see the funny side.