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Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture (2019)
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Blu-ray Disc Released: 12/17/2019
All Ratings out of
Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Review by Mike Long, Posted on 12/10/2019
For decades, movies and television have had a symbiotic relationship and not
just for the fact that actors often move back and forth between the mediums.
Over the years, we’ve seen theatrical films into TV shows and,
conversely, long-running TV programs have been translated into major motion
pictures. When the latter event
occurs, the general rule is that the movie will mostly retain the same
characters and ideas as the show, but things will be much bigger and better.
After all, a movie should be a spectacle, right?
Apparently, the makers of Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture didn’t
get that memo.
Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture
takes place a short time after the finale of the television series.
The Grantham family continues to reside in the palatial Downton Abbey
with their star. Lord Grantham
(Hugh Bonneville) is attempting to enjoy semi-retirement as his daughter, Mary
(Michelle Dockery) and former son-in-law, Tom (Allen Leech), oversee the
day-to-day running of the estate.
However, the house is thrown into an uproar when it’s learned that the King and
Queen will be visiting Downton on their tour of the countryside.
Head Cook Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) and Butler Thomas (Robert
James-Collier) are crest-fallen when they learn that the Royal house-staff will
be taking over Downton. Head
housekeeper Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) doesn’t like this plan, so she drags
former head butler (and her husband) Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) out of retirement
in order to help the staff represent Downton.
Meanwhile, Edith (Laura Carmichael) is dealing with the fact that the
King wants her husband to leave the country during a pivotal time in her life.
As the Downton Abbey series concluded in 2016, for the feature film,
Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture had to walk a fine line.
Coming so soon after the show’s finale, the movie couldn’t do anything
radically different. On the other
hand, it had to do something unlike the series.
It certainly achieves that first goal.
As the film opens, we are immediately taken back into the world of
Downton Abbey, with the same characters and settings.
The story wastes no time into getting back into the swing of things and
it certainly feels comfortable.
Everything that you loved about the show is on display here.
Which brings us to the problem with Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture –
they didn’t get the memo about movies being big.
In the beginning, it’s great that the film feels like the show, but at
some point, we expect it to take off and be broader and have more scope.
But, this never happens. No
one came into this expecting a special effects extravaganza or for the
Grantham’s to go into space, but something a bit more grandiose would have been
nice. Instead, we get drama which
actually pales into comparison to what we saw on the show.
The main point of tension in the movie is that the Royals are coming to
visit. I’m not British, so perhaps
I don’t understand the stress involved in such an event, but it’s clear that
this is supposed to be a huge deal.
But, all that it really does is introduce us to a family who are fancier than
the Grantham’s. The anxiety over
the visit doesn’t leave the screen and the battle for superiority amongst the
servants really falls flat. There
are a few subplots here which are somewhat intriguing, but the events
surrounding the King and Queen simply don’t resonate.
The “Downton Abbey Series Recap” included here (which should have been
prominently featured on the Main Menu) reminds us the kind of soap-opera
shenanigans which ran through the series.
(Affairs! Death!
Bastards!) This only helps
to emphasize how overtly low-key the movie is.
Yes, it’s great to see these characters again and true fans of the show
will bet goosebumps when the score swells during the opening, but the overall
effect of the film is lackluster.
Again, I didn’t expect to be knocked out of my seat, but I also didn’t expect a
story which felt like some leftover ideas from the original series.
Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture certainly didn’t do anything to
sully the reputation of the show, but it definitely wasted the opportunity to be
the ultimate story of the Grantham family.
Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture
could have used a lot more Dowager on Blu-ray Disc courtesy of Universal Studios
Home Entertainment. The film has
been letterboxed at 2.35:1 and the Disc contains an AVC 1080p HD transfer which
runs at an average of 33 Mbps. The
image is very sharp and clear, showing no overt grain and no defects from the
source materials. The colors look
fantastic and the image is never overly dark or bright.
The level of detail is quite impressive, as we can make out the textures
on objects and the depth works quite well.
This certainly rivals HD broadcasts of the show.
The Disc carries a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track which runs at 48 kHz and
an average of 5.5 Mbps. The track
provides clear dialogue and sound effects.
The track truly shines which the score is being utilized, as the music
fills the speakers and provides a wealth of individual sounds and subwoofer
effects. The parade sequence also
delivers impressive surround sound, as the noises of the crowd is spread amongst
the front and rear channels.
The Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture Blu-ray Disc contains several
extras. We begin with an AUDIO
COMMENTARY from Director Michael Engler.
However, our first stop should most likely be the “Downton Abbey
Series Recap”. Hosted by Jim Carter
and Phyllis Logan, this 10-minute refresher is a must-see, even if you are a fan
of the show. The Disc offers eight
DELETED SCENES which run about 6 minutes.
There are no new character or subplots to be had here.
“Cast Conversations” is divided into two sections, “Upstairs Cast” (7
minutes) and “Downstairs Cast” (9 minutes), and allows the actors to discuss
what it was like coming back together for the film.
“The Royal Visit” (3 minutes) simply gives an overview of that part of
the story, including the historical perspective.
The authenticity of the props, costumes, and settings are explored in
“True to the Twenties” (2 minutes).
“Welcome to Downton Abbey” (3 minutes) looks at the castle used in the film and
how it was shot. “The Brilliance of
Julian Fellowes” (2 minutes) gives the cast a chance to talk about how the
show’s creator navigated the film.