Reviews
Fackham Hall
Good comedy films are becoming increasingly hard to find, and finding a good British one is almost impossible. So as a Brit living in America, the moment I heard that Jimmy Carr, one of my personal favourite comedians, was co-writing a spoof period drama taking the mick out of arguably Britain’s biggest export, Downton Abbey, I was immediately invested. I was even quietly hoping we might be witnessing a modern day genre classic with Fackham Hall. But before I go any further, this is a gentle trigger warning to residents of Blackpool and Skegness. You may catch a few strays here.
I also must say upfront that as I left the cinema and noticed the glazed expressions on many faces, while tears were still streaming down my own, it was clear that the abundance of British nods and borderline offensive gags had sailed straight over the heads of many American viewers. In that moment, I couldn’t help but think that Jimmy Carr had done it again, and that we were witnessing the best comedy movie of the year.
Narratively, Fackham Hall is every bit as cheesy and predictable as the source material it is spoofing, and in embracing that, it pulls no punches in its portrayal of the British period dramas that have become so popular in recent years. The story follows the Davenport family, wealthy landowners who have held the estate of Fackham Hall in their family for generations. Sadly, due to the death of all Lord Davenport’s (Damian Lewis) and Lady Davenport’s (Katherine Waterston) sons, there is no longer a male heir to the throne, leaving the family in peril.
Their only hope is for one of their daughters, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie) or Poppy (Emma Laird), to marry their first cousin Archibald (Tom Felton). Talk about keeping it in the family. Of course nothing is ever that simple, not even an incestuous arrangement it seems. This is where poor little orphan Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), pronounced “no one,” turns up with a mysterious letter before somehow landing a job within the manor in brilliantly ridiculous fashion. There are plenty of twists and turns, all of them wonderfully predictable, but let’s be honest, no one is watching Fackham Hall for gripping drama. They are watching for the comedic payoff, and there is more than enough to enjoy.
For any comedy to work, the true magic lies not just in the material but in the delivery. Anyone familiar with Jimmy Carr will know how sharp and ruthless his one liners can be, and that style forms the backbone of the film’s jokes. You know exactly what you are in for in terms of bite, but the entire cast deserves enormous praise for delivering every line with total commitment. There is a constant sense that the next laugh is only seconds away.
And don’t even get me started on some of the most preposterous characters that are included in Fackham Hall, each one more outrageous than the last, with the inclusion of a certain Mr. Tolkein a personal highlight. Although, much of the marketing for the movie has focused on Carr, yet he only appears in a brief cameo as a local priest. Even so, he lands some of the sharpest gags in the film, particularly those aimed at religion, and I have no doubt a few viewers will walk out feeling slightly offended. In true Jimmy fashion, I am almost certain that was exactly the intention, and if anyone had a problem with it, he would no doubt have a creative word or two to share.
I will admit, I was nervous going in. The trailer was hilarious and I feared that the best lines had already been revealed, but that concern vanished within thirty seconds. This is British humour at its finest. While some viewers might miss the many cultural nods, anyone attuned to the wit on display will be laughing from start to finish. You will need to keep your eyes open though, as many of the gags are blink and you miss it moments. I could even feel people staring at the back of my head as I reacted to some of the more niche lines that I was clearly the only one to spot. A particular highlight occurs in the prison scene. Look above the cell doors for a joke that only a select few will understand, and if you catch it, it will have you on the floor laughing. And whilst you are at it, always pay attention to the corners of the frame, because some of the best moments of the movie are hidden in plain sight.
As spoofs go, this is the best I have seen in a long time. I am sure Fackham Hall will earn comparisons to The Naked Gun from earlier this year because of its style of wit, but that should be seen as a huge compliment, as that film was also laugh out loud funny. Fackham Hall clearly set out to offend fans of Downton Abbey and perhaps a few more sensitive viewers, but this cutting British humour is exactly the kind of laugh-out-loud entertainment I could watch and enjoy a thousand times over.
