Fackham Hall – This Fast-Paced, Funny Parody of Downton Abbey That's Delightfully Throwaway.
Maybe the notion of an ending era around us: following a long period of inactivity, the comedic send-up is enjoying a comeback. This summer saw the rebirth of this unserious film style, which, in its finest form, mocks the self-importance of overly serious genre with a flood of exaggerated stereotypes, visual jokes, and ridiculously smart wordplay.
Frivolous eras, apparently, beget self-awarely frivolous, laugh-filled, refreshingly shallow amusement.
The Newest Entry in This Goofy Trend
The latest of these absurd spoofs comes in the form of Fackham Hall, a parody of Downton Abbey that jabs at the very pokeable pretensions of wealthy UK historical series. Penned in part by British-Irish comedian Jimmy Carr and overseen by Jim O'Hanlon, the movie has a wealth of material to draw from and exploits every bit of it.
From a absurd opening and culminating in a ludicrous finish, this amusing upper-class adventure crams every one of its hour and a half with puns and routines that vary from the childish to the truly humorous.
A Send-Up 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 feckless Lord Davenport (portrayed by a delightfully mannered Damian Lewis) and his book-averse wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). Having lost their male heirs in various unfortunate mishaps, their aspirations now rest on finding matches for their daughters.
The junior daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has accomplished the dynastic aim of an engagement to the appropriate first cousin, Archibald (an impeccably slimy Tom Felton). But after she pulls out, the burden shifts to the single elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), described as a "dried-up husk of a woman" and and holds radically progressive notions concerning female autonomy.
The Film's Humor Works Best
The spoof is significantly more successful when sending up the stifling norms placed on Edwardian-era ladies – a subject frequently explored for self-serious drama. The archetype of proper, coveted femininity supplies the best comic targets.
The storyline, as befitting a deliberately silly spoof, takes a back seat to the gags. Carr keeps them maintaining a pleasantly funny rate. Included is a killing, a bungled inquiry, and an illicit love affair involving the roguish pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.
The Constraints of Lighthearted Fun
Everything is in the spirit of playful comedy, but that very quality imposes restrictions. The dialed-up silliness of a spoof may tire quickly, and the mileage for this specific type diminishes somewhere between sketch and feature.
At a certain point, you might wish to go back to stories with (at least a modicum of) reason. Yet, it's necessary to respect a genuine dedication to the artform. If we're going to distract ourselves relentlessly, let's at least see the funny side.