“DOWNTON ABBEY” — 3 stars — Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Tuppence Middleton; PG (thematic elements, some suggestive material, and language); running time: 122 minutes; in general release
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s a drama millions of people — nearly 10 million people by the end — watched unfold. The PBS TV series “Downton Abbey” concluded an incredible six-season run in 2016, and now, three years later, “Downton Abbey” the movie is reviving the fandom.
Michael Engler’s film — with a screenplay from “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes — is also an expert example of how to properly juggle multiple characters and storylines. The film weaves its way through the chaos and intrigue that unfolds when the royal family visits the beautiful English countryside estate of Downton Abbey in the late 1920s.
The Abbey is a hive of activity, divided between the goings-on upstairs, where the aristocrats dwell — and downstairs, with the servants. We get a lot of familiar faces.
Upstairs, Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) is the power behind her son Robert (Hugh Bonneville), the Earl of Grantham. We meet Robert’s daughters, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), his wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), and their widowed son-in-law Tom Branson (Allen Leech). Downstairs, Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier) has taken over as butler from the retired Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), and servants Daisy Mason (Sophie McShera) and Andy Parker (Michael Fox) are talking marriage.
These characters — and several others — all have their own narrative threads, covering everything from Branson’s conflicts with his Irish heritage to Barrow’s conflicts with his sexuality. But most of the plot boils down to two major conflicts. The royal visit marks the return of the queen’s lady-in-waiting, Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton), who is estranged from the Cawley family. Violet believes Robert should be her rightful heir, but Bagshaw seems strangely keen on her own protégé, Lucy (Tuppence Middleton).
For the servants’ part, their excitement at the prospect of serving the royal family is halted when the royals’ own crew shows up to assume their duties. The chaos that follows is a real achievement in that even without an extensive knowledge of the show, the threads and characters are surprisingly easy to follow.
The movie transitions from thread to thread with grace, and though you don’t get a lot of time with any individual character, the different storylines are strong enough to be engaging. (And even in limited screen time, Smith steals the show, getting all the best lines.)
At the same time, in spite of its grand presentation and tone, “Downton Abbey” feels more like an extended episode of the TV series rather than an essential dedicated film. Non-fans (who presumably will see the film alongside their fan friends) will have an easy time of following along, but at a comparatively brisk 122 minutes, the film doesn’t waste a lot of time with backstory or exposition.
The final result is ultimately a gift to fans of the TV series, and it’s hard to believe anyone in that category will walk away disappointed. Even aside from the excitement of seeing the characters on the big screen, the story is well told and executed. If nothing else, “Downton Abbey” will leave audiences hoping for more adventures.
Rating explained: “Downton Abbey” is rated PG for some adult themes and mild sensuality.