A Look at Fackham Hall – A Brisk, Humorous Parody of Downton Abbey Which Is Pleasantly Throwaway.
Maybe the notion of end times around us: subsequent to a lengthy span of inactivity, the spoof is staging a return. The recent season observed the rebirth of this playful category, which, when done well, lampoons the pretensions of excessively solemn genres with a flood of heightened tropes, physical comedy, and stupid-clever puns.
Unserious times, it seems, give rise to self-awarely frivolous, laugh-filled, pleasantly insubstantial fun.
A Recent Offering in This Silly Trend
The newest of these goofy parodies arrives as Fackham Hall, a parody of Downton Abbey that jabs at the highly satirizable self-importance of gilded UK historical series. Co-written by British-Irish comedian Jimmy Carr and helmed by Jim O'Hanlon, the film has plenty of material to mine and wastes none of it.
From a ludicrous start to a ludicrous finish, this enjoyable silver-spoon romp crams every one of its runtime with gags and sketches that vary from the juvenile all the way to the genuinely funny.
A Pastiche of Aristocrats and Servants
Much like Downton, Fackham Hall presents a caricature of extremely pompous aristocrats and very obsequious staff. The plot revolves around the feckless Lord Davenport (played by a delightfully mannered Damian Lewis) and his anti-reading wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). After losing their male heirs in various unfortunate mishaps, their aspirations fall upon securing unions for their two girls.
One daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has secured the aristocratic objective of betrothal to the suitable first cousin, Archibald (an impeccably slimy Tom Felton). But after she pulls out, the onus falls upon the single elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), who is an old maid already and and possesses unladylike ideas about a woman's own mind.
The Film's Humor Succeeds
The film is significantly more successful when sending up the oppressive social constraints placed on early 20th-century women – a subject typically treated for earnest storytelling. The archetype of proper, coveted ladylike behavior provides the most fertile punching bags.
The plot, as one would expect from an intentionally ridiculous send-up, is of lesser importance to the jokes. The co-writer serves them up maintaining an amiably humorous pace. There is a killing, a farcical probe, and an illicit love affair featuring the roguish pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.
Limitations and Pure Silliness
It's all in the spirit of playful comedy, however, this approach has limitations. The dialed-up silliness characteristic of the genre may tire after a while, and the mileage on this particular variety diminishes somewhere between a skit and a full-length film.
After a while, audiences could long to go back to the world of (at least a modicum of) coherence. Nevertheless, you have to applaud a genuine dedication to the artform. In an age where we might to entertain ourselves relentlessly, let's at least laugh at it.
