Movie Number 37 of 2025
The Movie: Downton Abbey - The Grande Finale
The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens
Runtime: Two hours and three minutes
Stars: 4 (but you have to be a fan)
As I am all but packed for this big trip, and as I finished my contract with the company in Darwin today, and as my work laptop was collected from me soon after shutting down, all that was left to do was get a bubble tea and go see a movie - and Downton Abbey - The Grande Finale was that film.
I will say now, this is a film for the fans. If you haven't watched the series or seen the other films, do not bother with this. You're not going to understand a thing.
If you are, on the other hand, a fan - definitely give this a go. Of course, it's cheesier than a fifteen-year-old boys socks, but it's Downton Abbey. We've been watching this family over fifteen years. They have a role in the zeitgeist.
The best thing about this film is it is a lot funnier than it's predecessors - but you have to be in on the jokes.
The film revolves around Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) who is being divorced by her wet blanket of an ex-husband - who we don't see (pity - Matthew Goode is wonderful in everything) causing all sorts of ruckuses. Remember, it's now 1930 and divorce is unheard of.
Meanwhile, the older members of the Upstairs/Downstairs mob are looking at retirement. Mr Carson (Jim Carter), Mrs Patmore (ILesley Nicol) and even Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville_ are looking to move on to the next stage of life. Long standing household members, Jimmy and Daisy are starting to make their mark.
On top of this, there are money issues. Lady Grantham's (Elizabeth McGovern) brother has lost the family millions, assisted by a rather shady Mr Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola).
Oh, and Thomas Barrow is back from America with his boyfriend Guy Dexter and their friend Noel Coward (Arty Froushan) in tow. They are "friends". What sort "friends" depends on who you ask.
After 15 years of watching Downton Abbey, I love that this brings everything full circle. It's light and fluffy, but has some emotional wallop at times. There's a fitting tribute to Dame Maggie Smith, who was always the best thing in the show.
The sets and costumes, as always, a joy. I also love, being English actors, that these characters, who we've loved for 15 years, now have greying hair and lines on their faces. You can seen the time passing. It's great.
Also, if you know the characters, you will find some of the one liners laugh out loud funny.
But I also needed a tissue at the end.
This is a film for the fans - but as a fan, I really enjoyed it. The perfect Friday night before you go away fodder.
And if your Mum likes Downton Abbey, take her along. She'll love it.
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