“Downton Abbey” is crowd-pleasing but lacks substance

BY SABRYNA COPPOLA ’22

On Sept. 20, the silver-screen adaptation of “Downton Abbey” hit movie theaters, drawing surprisingly large crowds. The show, which follows an aristocratic British family and their household staff, ended four years ago. The series finale left everything wrapped up fairly neatly. But viewers were more than willing to call for another installment of the series.

In the film, the King and Queen of England are coming to visit Downton Abbey, which sends the family and staff into a flurry of preparations and mishaps. The Grantham family navigates their trademark discussions of class and reputation, punctuated by the Dowager Countess’ (Dame Maggie Smith) biting remarks. The downstairs staff is involved in various antics, begrudgingly allowed by head butler Carson (Jim Carter). The royal visit has many hiccups, but everything turns out all right for the household.

As a fan of the original series, I found this adaptation delightful and adorable. That being said, it did not have the same heavy themes that the show carried. Despite subtle nods to Irish insurgency, the decline of the aristocracy and homophobia, the movie was full of fluff. It gave every character the perfect happy ending, even making the declining elitist system of British monarchy seem on the rise. With impressive performances from Dame Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton, the rest of the film seemed like a highlights reel of sweetest moments from the series.

When asked about the historical accuracy of the film, Jenna Osborn ’22 said, “The movie, much like its television counterpart, subtly portrayed the evolving position of both royalty as well as the wealthy upper class within society during 1920s England. Though still dramatized for a public audience, I think the portrayal of both of these groups was done quite accurately.”

If you are a fan of the show, I would highly recommend seeing this movie. It is heartwarming and doesn’t take itself too seriously; the character arcs seem to highlight every character at their best. But it doesn’t tackle the themes of classism and sexism as aptly as it has in the past. To compare a two-hourlong film to seasons of content feels unfair.

“Downton Abbey” created a glamorous window into British high-life, peppered with wit, drama and romance. Expect to be pleased, but don’t expect too much in the way of thought-provoking social critique.