"What's even more rare is when they're actually funny. Here's some good news. Director Jim O'Hanlon's ribbing of Downton Abbey and countless buttoned-up BBC period pieces lands its jokes more often than not. Oh, yes, there are groaners, but you expect that. A team of screenwriters gleefully skewer the Dickens out of this genre and do so through wordplay, aristocratic buffoonery, innuendo (the pastor's sermons are to die for) and more."
"There's even a little romance as hunky pickpocket Eric Noone (a dashing, quite funny Ben Radcliffe) gets charged with delivering a letter to Lord Davenport (Damian Lewis) at Fackham Hall, where he quickly becomes smitten with clever Rose (Thomasin McKenzie). This happens just as everyone's scurrying about preparing for sis Poppy (Emma Laird) to wed an annoying drip of a cousin (Tom Felton). The joyless union is being pushed by Lord and Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston) so that the wealth stays in the family."
"Fackham Hall has a quiver full of sharp one-liners that hit the target and an interesting collection of supporting characters including author JRR Tolkien (Jason Done). Of course not all the jokes work, but many do, as Fackham Hall thrives on pure silliness and word play. It made me laugh, yes, and groan a time or two, but more importantly it took my mind off the world's problems for 90 minutes. So: mission accomplished."
Fackham Hall skewers British period dramas with off-color parody, broad wordplay, aristocratic buffoonery and bawdy innuendo. Jim O'Hanlon directs material that lands jokes more often than not while accepting the inevitable groaners. The plot centers on pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) delivering a letter to Lord Davenport (Damian Lewis) and falling for Rose (Thomasin McKenzie) amid a schemed marriage for sister Poppy (Emma Laird). The wealthy Davenport parents (Katherine Waterston) push a joyless union to keep assets in the family. Supporting bits include author J.R.R. Tolkien (Jason Done). The film thrives on silliness, earns laughs, and runs about 90 minutes; rated three stars and opens Dec. 5.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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