Downton Abbey 2019

Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery,
Joanne Froggatt, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter,
Imelda Staunton, Laura Carmichael, Brendan Coyle

"Based on a TV series"

Cinema 4, Ayala Malls the 30th

Fans of this period drama TV show were thrilled when we heard it would made into a full length movie. Characters we have learned to love, somehow feel like our family members even though it is set in an entirely different century. If you are familiar with another British TV show, "Upstairs, Downstairs" in the 1970s, then Downton Abbey would be quite similar to the same premise. 

In this case, the upstairs refers to the landed Crawley family - headed by Lord Grantham, his American wife, his daughters and their significant others, as well as his feisty mother Lady Violet Crawley. While the downstairs are the cook, the maids, and the footmen who serve them headed by head butler Mr Carson.

The series folded up nicely after 6 seasons with 52 episodes on aristocratic intrigue, servants foibles and everything else in between which delighted us and charmed us from 2011 to 2015. The older Crawleys aging well with wisdom, while the younger Crawleys got married, had kids with their every loyal household staff still performing their duties with aplomb.

So after 4 long years, it is back with a movie. A reunion of these endearing characters with the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Downton Abbey as its main premise. Naturally, the 'aristocrats' with all its family members present are very excited about this news and their dedicated staff immediately get to work from coming up with an extensive menu, polishing the silver wares and even bringing back the old reliable Mr Carson from his retirement to be the head butler, yet again. A duty and a job, he can do with his eyes closed.

The main premise (the royal visit), with various side plots tackling issues like homosexuality, opposition to the monarchy,  an estate inheritance all blend well together until the very satisfying end. Wardrobe is visually attractive with the costumes reminiscent of that century. The massive castle they call home (Downton Abbey) is the principal setting along with several other places which exude their period drama locales vibe. The ensemble cast are all in their elements headed by the indefatigable Maggie Smith as the spirited Lady Violet Crawley still dispensing her sarcasm masquerading as wit dialogue with gusto. 

One always gets a pleasant feeling when Downton Abbey is on. All those years, these characters were very welcome guests into our homes through the telly. Their 'reunion' movie did not disappoint in any way and we left the cinema with smiles on our faces and in our hearts.