Fackham Hall – A Fast-Paced, Witty Parody of Downton Abbey Which Is Refreshingly Lightweight.

It could be the feeling of uncertain days pervading: following a long period of dormancy, the spoof is making a resurgence. The past few months saw the rebirth of this playful category, which, in its finest form, skewers the self-importance of excessively solemn dramas with a flood of pitched clichés, sight gags, and stupid-clever puns.

Frivolous times, so it goes, give rise to deliberately shallow, gag-packed, refreshingly shallow fun.

The Latest Addition in This Absurd Wave

The newest of these absurd spoofs arrives as Fackham Hall, a takeoff on the British period drama that needles the easily mockable airs of wealthy English costume epics. Penned in part by stand-up performer Jimmy Carr and helmed by Jim O'Hanlon, the film finds ample of inspiration to draw from and exploits every bit of it.

Starting with a ludicrous start and culminating in a outrageous finale, this amusing upper-class adventure crams each of its runtime with puns and routines that vary from the juvenile to the authentically hilarious.

A Pastiche of Upstairs, Downstairs

Similar to Downton, Fackham Hall delivers a pastiche of very self-important aristocrats and excessively servile help. The plot centers on the incompetent Lord Davenport (portrayed by a wonderfully pretentious Damian Lewis) and his book-averse wife, Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). After losing their four sons in separate unfortunate mishaps, their aspirations fall upon securing unions for their daughters.

The younger daughter, Poppy (Emma Laird), has accomplished the dynastic aim of betrothal to the suitable close relative, Archibald (a wonderfully unctuous Tom Felton). But when she backs out, the burden falls upon the single elder sister, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie), who is a spinster already and and holds dangerously modern ideas regarding women's independence.

Where the Laughs Lands Most Effectively

The film fares much better when satirizing the stifling norms forced upon pre-war females – an area typically treated for earnest storytelling. The archetype of proper, coveted femininity supplies the richest punching bags.

The narrative thread, as one would expect from an intentionally ridiculous parody, is of lesser importance to the gags. The co-writer keeps them maintaining a pleasantly funny rate. There is a homicide, a bungled inquiry, and a star-crossed attraction involving the plucky street urchin Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) and Rose.

A Note on Frivolous Amusement

It's all in lighthearted fun, but that very quality comes with constraints. The amplified foolishness inherent to parody may tire quickly, and the entertainment value on this particular variety runs out at the intersection of a skit and a full-length film.

After a while, one may desire to return to the world of (very slight) coherence. Yet, one must respect a sincere commitment to this type of comedy. In an age where we might to distract ourselves unto oblivion, we might as well find the humor in it.