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By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Spoof comedies are usually hit or miss, and this one never comes close to the target. “Fackham Hall” is a new satire that uses “Downton Abbey” as its main source of comedic material, but the execution is terribly flawed. From toilet humor to poorly set up pratfalls, this is a film with a neanderthal’s sense of humor and an unevolved plot.
Set in 1930s England, Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) is a skilled pickpocket whose heart is stolen by Rose Davenport (Thomasin McKenzie), daughter of the aristocratic Lord (Damian Lewis) and Lady Davenport (Katherine Waterston). After the disastrous attempt to wed their eldest daughter to her pompous cousin Archibald (Tom Felton), the oblivious parents turn their attention to Rose to have her marry Archibald instead. The ne’er-do-well, Eric, has an uphill battle to woo a woman well above his station, especially with the future of the Davenport residence hanging in the balance.
If it became apparent that a 13-year-old boy wrote this screenplay, it would not be surprising, because that is how juvenile the humor is. Longtime TV director Jim O’Hanlon helms this parody, and it becomes immediately clear that he should stick to television. Considering the diminished popularity of “Downton Abbey,” the Irish filmmaker’s decision to spoof it is flawed from inception. Those shows and movies are simply not memorable enough to generate interest in parodying them.
The immaturity of the comedic attempts knows no bounds, alternating between low hanging fart gags, phallic jokes, and ridiculously cheap physical humor. O’Hanlon tries mixing in wordplay humor and the old, overused Abbott and Costello skit, “Who’s on First,” which only succeed in head-shaking chagrin. One would think for as many jokes as he tries to cram into the hour and a half runtime, that there would at least be some amusement, but there is none to be had. He even tries to pull off some Monty Python inspired levity, but it only insults those timeless classics.
Not even the nondescript cast can make much out of the horribly written script. Actors like Damian Lewis (“Band of Brothers”) and Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice”) are out of their depth with little experience in the comedy genre. Unable to deliver their lines with any kind of natural comedic intent, their performances lack any entertainment value. Even Tom Felton, who knows how to be an entitled sleazeball as evidenced by his portrayal of Draco Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” films, is unable to transition that personality into a funny, entitled sleazeball. Additionally, there is no charisma or chemistry present among the romantic pairing of Thomasin McKenzie and Ben Radcliffe, making their performances wasteful and forgettable.
The unabashed amount of idiocy on display is more sickening than it is hilarious. “Fackham Hall” juggles multiple comedic styles and strategies to elicit laughter but is unable to even receive a cricket’s chirp for it has died from unequivocal boredom. If you’re looking for a worthwhile satire that executes this brand of humor correctly, then you would be better off staying at home and watching “The Naked Gun,” which came out earlier this year.
This movie earns:
