Fackham Hall review: Jimmy Carr’s British spoof is all fun and games… but predictable
A new British comedy film stars Damian Lewis, Katherine Waterston and Tom Felton in a raunchy romp. But does the period drama spoof live up to the hype?
Fackham Hall is absurd and witty but predictable (Image: PA)
The concept behind Fackham Hall revolves around spoofing British period dramas; and this particular tale focuses on the made-up Davenport clan.
Following a string of calamitous mishaps, Lord and Lady Davenport find themselves desperately needing to wed their youngest daughter to first cousin Archibald in order to cling onto their estate.
But there’s a snag: young Poppy has bolted from the ceremony to run away with her dung delivery bloke. That leaves only Rose – described as a “dried-up husk of a woman” at 23 – who’s equally repulsed by cousin Archibald.
The plot thickens when Eric, a grown-up orphaned lad, gets the job of bringing correspondence to Fackham Hall. Predictably, he collides with Rose and sparks fly instantly, sparking a clandestine affair.
Drama ensues, though, as there’s been a murder; Lord Devonshire has snuffed it, meaning Rose and Archibald must tie the knot.
The starring cast of Fackham Hall(Image: PA)
This speedy tale, penned alongside funnyman Jimmy Carr, certainly dishes up sufficient jokes to trigger some chuckles.
One of the sharpest nods to contemporary life is the live-in servant “Alexa”, who had taken over from “Siri” – Lady Devonshire became concerned that Siri was eavesdropping on her conversations, after all.
Another brilliant touch involves houseguest J.R.Tolkien (portrayed by Jason Done) who’s soaking up his surroundings as material for his unpublished works.
Consider the moment, for instance, when he catches Lady Devonport addressing her daughter as “my precious”.
The film is packed to the brim with cheeky double entendres, rude gags, and absolutely bonkers antics throughout.
Whilst the acting can deliver genuine laughs, certain moments fall completely flat – particularly when Great Aunt Bonaparte (Sue Johnston) attempts to speak like a modern teenager.
Around the dining table, Great Aunt Bonaparte would chip into discussions with phrases like “wasteman just got merked”.
The entire spoof is thoroughly daft, and the plot follows a fairly obvious path, but if you fancy some easy-going entertainment, it makes for decent enough viewing.
Currently showing in cinemas, the stellar ensemble includes: Damian Lewis as Lord Davenport; Katherine Waterston as Lady Davenport; Emma Laird as Poppy; Tom Felton as Archibald; Thomasin McKenzie as Rose; and Ben Radcliffe as the orphaned lad, Eric.