⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5

This British comedy farce grabbed my interest thanks to the trailers humour. It boasts a star-studded cast of UK actors, including co-writer Jimmy Carr. The main cast featuring Damian Lewis as Lord Davenport, Tom Felton as Archibald and Anna Maxwell Martin supporting.

The film centres on the Davenport family at Fackham Hall. Unbeknownst to the family, they’ve hired a pickpocket who falls for their daughter Rose. To save the family home, Rose is forced into marriage to Archibald. 

Downton Abbey offers a wealth of material for this film to parody. This British comedy farce entertains with stories ranging from romance to murder.

It’s not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny but very amusing with some aspects that are unexpectedly charming.

Be on the lookout for many background jokes like distant character interactions, posters and signs that add to the humour and make you chuckle.

I enjoyed the film more than my wife and I understand it’s doing well at the box office. This is definitely a better British comedy film than many others that flop at the box office.

I particularly enjoyed Anna Maxwell Martin’s portrayal of Mrs McCallister. While billed as a supporting role, she actually features heavily and feels more like a main cast member. She provides plenty of laughs and turns out to be quite crucial to the plot portraying her cold character.

Thomasin McKenzie, who plays Rose, delivers a delightful and likeable performance. Damian Lewis appears slightly less on screen but is equally excellent.

I highly recommend watching this film; and the 100-minute runtime is just right.

Film Rating

Music

N/A (more sound effects than instrumental/music)

Story/plot

3 out of 5

Acting/Performances

3.5 out of 5

Overall

3.5 out of 5

Certification: 15
Running time: 100 minutes
Screening type: 2D

Cast

Info according to Chat GPT: 

🎭 Main Cast

Thomasin McKenzie – Rose Davenport  

Ben Radcliffe – Eric Noone  

Katherine Waterston – Lady Davenport  

Damian Lewis – Lord Davenport  

Tom Felton – Archibald  

Emma Laird – Poppy Davenport 

🎬 Supporting Cast

Anna Maxwell Martin – Mrs McCallister  

Tom Goodman-Hill – Inspector Watt  

Sue Johnston – Great Aunt Bonaparte  

Lizzie Hopley – Phyllis Davenport  

Jimmy Carr – Vicar  

Lily Knight – Fifi Valentine  

Magdalena Sverlander – Miss Rose Seller  

Tim McMullan – Cyril  

Laurie Ogden – Patricia  

Paula Wharton – Mrs Kitchen  

Gemma Wardle – Gladys