First, a disclaimer: I would watch Dame Maggie Smith open an envelope, and still give her a glowing review.
Now that is out of the way, if you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you very likely will enjoy the movie. If you’re unfamiliar with the BBC television series, there’s a primer at the opening that will help make sense of things. Trust me, you’ll need it.
The film picks up where the last one left off – with the Dowager Countess Lady Violet Crowley, played by Maggie Smith, having announced she is dying. She drops the rather fascinating news that she has inherited a villa in the South of France and is leaving it to her great granddaughter, Sybil. Among the wild speculation amid the family about Violet’s youth, a movie crew descends upon the household much to the dismay of some and the delight of others.
There are as many subplots as there are characters, the main aim of the story is to wrap up every single one of them with a bow. There are lots of happy endings and – this isn’t exactly a spoiler considering the set up in the last movie – a poignant death scene.
With so much going on the movie feels very forced. In the rush to get to those happy endings the pace is rapid, and it left me with the feeling that a lot of footage was left on the cutting room floor. Yet there is plenty to enjoy even if you are not a Downton Abbey groupie. The cinematography is gorgeous, the costumes and sets are lavish, and John Lunn’s music flows seamlessly between the beloved theme and new compositions that weave the scenes together.
Will there be another Downton Abbey after this one? Maybe, but if so that’s the one that really should have the title “A New Era.” This one is a pleasant farewell to favorite characters, with the entire household apparently going off in different directions. Downton Abbey: A New Era is best enjoyed with a nice hot cup of tea.