Fackham Hall Review: Absurdly Funny Satire of Downton Abbey Is a Laugh a Second

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Get ready for a hilarious return to classic studio comedy! Jim O’Hanlon’s new film is a fast-paced, incredibly funny satire, reminiscent of The Naked Gun. It’s a welcome change of pace, focusing on physical humor and energetic performances – something we don’t see enough of these days. While many of the jokes are delightfully silly – in the best way possible – they’re clearly inspired by the creators of Airplane! and Top Secret. But O’Hanlon smartly aims this timeless comedic style at a deserving target: the British upper class.

Comedian Jimmy Carr teamed up with his brother Patrick (who produced the screenplay) to create Fackham Hall. The film is packed with jokes and references, to the point where it almost feels overwhelming, but it builds to a thrilling climax. The story centers around Fackham Hall, an estate similar to Downton Abbey – though the name sounds a bit like a swear word when said with a Cockney accent. The Davenport family has lived there for 400 years, but they’re facing ruin after Lord and Lady Davenport’s four sons all died in separate, unusual accidents: one on the Titanic, one on the Hindenburg, one in a golf accident, and another from, well, excessive self-indulgence.

Fackham Hall is a Dizzying Mix of Outré Humor and Stylish Design

I’m completely absorbed in this story set in 1931! The Davenport family is in a really tough spot, and they’re considering a desperate measure: marrying off their oldest daughter, Poppy, to her cousin, Archibald. It’s a tradition they’ve apparently been practicing for generations – their family motto, displayed right at the entrance to their estate, basically says ‘incest forever!’ Poor Poppy is only twenty-three, which they consider ancient, and she absolutely doesn’t love Archibald. So, in a shocking move, she runs away with the manure delivery man – a much more unlikely, but clearly real, love! I can’t believe she left him at the altar!

Just as things are heating up, a charming local named Eric Noone (played by Ben Radcliffe) shows up with a secret letter for Lord Davenport. He and the Lord’s youngest daughter, Rose (Thomasin McKenzie, who’s surprisingly funny), have an instant connection – though they meet when Rose accidentally crashes into him while joyriding in a car! Eric ends up taking a humble job at the estate, and while he and Rose secretly fall for each other, her parents are determined to match her with someone else, Archibald.

The Carrs have filled this movie with puns, suggestive humor, and deliberately confusing dialogue – it’s often hard to follow! Some of the jokes get repeated too much, and there are a few too many jokes about, well, bathroom humor. However, the film is mostly very successful. This is largely because everyone involved fully commits to the comedic style, and the movie is visually stunning, with fantastic attention to historical accuracy.

Carr and O’Hanlon are criticizing a specific type of harsh economic policy that’s deeply ingrained in the British upper class, where extreme displays of privilege are rarely questioned.

Okay, so this movie throws everything at the wall. Beyond the obvious Downton Abbey vibes, you’ll catch nods to Titanic, the Pink Panther films, Bridgerton, Sherlock Holmes, and a whole lot of silliness reminiscent of Mel Brooks and the Zucker Brothers. It’s wonderfully chaotic! They even have J.R.R. Tolkien as a character – played brilliantly, I might add – and they really lean into the cliché of the ‘humble beginnings’ biopic, showing how an ordinary person can become a legend. It’s a fun, self-aware approach.

Carr and O’Hanlon are satirizing the extreme privilege and self-importance of the British upper class, where absurd displays of wealth and status are rarely questioned. A prime example is Lord Davenport, who is so arrogant he doesn’t even perform simple tasks for himself – he has a servant act as his hands, bringing him tea or scratching his chin. The film also uses running gags where important background events go completely ignored during serious conversations. For instance, early in the movie, Rose and Lady Davenport bicker over who loves their father more while he’s actually choking to death right beside them.

The wealthy characters behave much like everyone else, but they try to maintain a polished, sophisticated image. The film consistently mocks the double standards of the upper class. Instead of using plain language, characters often employ euphemisms – for example, they don’t say someone needs to use the bathroom, but rather that they’re “wrestling with a tricky dump.” A running joke highlights the focus on romance in similar movies, with twin sisters who exclusively discuss men – a nod to the Bechdel test. Even the vicar, played by Jimmy Carr, is portrayed as either unable to read or deliberately hiding inappropriate behavior.

I have to say, if Fackham Hall had been released back in the 70s, people would have been shocked! Now, it feels a little old-fashioned, honestly. But with so many comedies relying on quick jokes and insults these days, where the real humor gets lost, it’s so refreshing to see something like this. It’s the kind of funny movie theaters really need! And it’s amazing how beautifully made it is, considering how wonderfully silly the whole thing is. I really hope the Davenports can save their home, but I wouldn’t mind spending a little more time in this hilarious, crazy world.

Fackham Hall opens in theaters on December 5th, 2025.

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2025-12-04 04:32