Review of Downton Abbey (2019) by Brent_Marchant — 21 Sep 2019

When a television series makes its transition from the small screen to the large screen, it needs to provide newcomers with enough back story to make the film understandable. Unfortunately, that's not the case with the movie version of the popular PBS series "Downton Abbey.

" Having not seen the broadcast version, I came in cold and left the theater feeling the same way, but for very different reasons. The picture tries to cram far too much material into its runtime, including what are obviously many hanging story threads, as well as a new major one created just for the film.

The result is a hurriedly executed story that's at times difficult to follow without the back story, mixed in with some plot devices that are just downright silly, almost juvenile, in nature. Despite the film's impeccable production values and its fine performances by Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton and Imelda Staunton, it has little else to offer to viewers, except those who are for diehard fans, who are likely to love it, regardless of its many regrettable shortcomings.

If you're unfamiliar with the material of this franchise, skip it; you'll save yourself boatloads of frustration, boredom and incredulity.