Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★1/2

Rated: PG

Directed by: Simon Curtis

Screenplay by: Julian Fellowes

Produced by: Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Paul Copley, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Douglas Reith, Penelope Wilton.

‘I am English, and I thank God for it.’

Opening on the bright lights of New York circa 1930, the Crawleys are adapting to the new era, some better than others.

Fans will enjoy the reintroduction to the familiar, many of the characters now as couples.

Thomas (Rob James-Collier) remains the companion of Guy Dexter (Dominic West), where Robert Crawley comments, ‘They’re very hearty those two together.’

Edith (Laura Carmichael) gives her husband, Herbert a knowing smile as Cora Crawley replies, ‘They must travel together a lot.’

But, ‘Things change and we must change with them,’ admits Robert.

Highlighting the theme of, The Grand Finale: change.

And Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) is the focus with her recent divorce from racing car driver, Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode).

Julian Fellowes (writer/producer) comments, ‘At the end of the second film, we said goodbye to the beloved Violet. We wanted to make the point that this may be the end of a family member, but it wasn’t the end of the family. I also wanted to show that families like the Crawleys who survived into the modern world, had to redefine themselves, get used to the new way of things and see if they could live with it. Some rather spectacularly could not, but I would like to feel that the Crawleys are one of the surviving families who have come to terms with the modern world.’

The divorce is a scandal that leaves Mary shunned from society.  Mary must find her way in life while the family copes with modern times with a dry wit.

That’s what makes this period drama watchable for me, the warmth and not-to-be-trifled-with stance of those who know what’s right and will fight for it with a polite smile and a thank-you.

I love this comment from Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton), ‘I should be grateful for your advice.  When I ask for it.’

I have not been a fan of, Downton Abbey, and reading my previous review of, Downton Abbey: A New Era highlights my distaste for the boring.  But I enjoyed the old-world charm of, The Grand Finale. 

I found myself nostalgic as the characters turned the page to begin a new chapter.  The film is about the struggle to adapt to change and I think anyone can relate to that.

So instead of sentimentality, the sweetness and kindness that the family have for each other and their extended family, those who live downstairs, makes the film bold, in some ways, because the characters fans have grown to love, grow into something else because of their acceptance of change.

However, this final instalment of, Downton Abbey is light in tone, despite the heavy theme of progress, making the viewing, in true English fashion, pleasant without unnecessary fanfare.