Downton Abbey: A New Era

 

If you're a Downton Abbey fan, you'll probably enjoy this chance to catch up with the Crawley's, but if you're new to the series and character's there isn't much for you here. 

The film opens with the one-time chauffeur turned son-in-law marrying again after years of mourning his first wife's death. Everyone's throwing rice and smiling. 

Soon dowager Crawley announces that she's inherited a villa in France. What? It turns out that a Frenchmen with whom she spent a week 60 or so years ago. She's rather sickly with a  nondescript illness so she won't go to France but she does want her son, his wife and various relatives and servants to look into the villa and to find out how this man's wife and son feel about this inheritance.

Mary, the eldest daughter, who now runs the estate, will remain at Downton. She's accepted a film director's request to use the house for his next film. The large fee can pay off the cost of a roof repair and a few other bills. The servants are all abuzz with the thought of serving the actors and watching the production. 

The plot's not earth-shattering but since it's just a few hours rather than a six part series the writer didn't delve into any serious. Fans will enjoy seeing their favorite characters and the gorgeous costumes. It's a fun romp with some sad moments but no tragedy equal to WWI or the deaths we saw in the television series. It satisfies but didn't make me feel that we absolutely need Downton back on Masterpiece, a film now and then is enough.