Critics Have Seen Fackham Hall, And Most Are Calling The Downton Abbey Spoof A ‘Genuinely Guffaw-Inducing Comedy’

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Since its debut in 2010, Downton Abbey has become a hugely popular series, with six seasons, five Christmas specials, and three films. A fun way to celebrate something so well-loved is through parody, and that’s what Fackham Hall is doing with the British period drama. The spoof film was released this weekend and is proving to be a hit with some critics, who find it very funny, while others are only mildly amused.

In Fackham Hall, a lighthearted comedy, pickpocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) unexpectedly finds work at a grand English estate. He quickly rises through the ranks and becomes entangled with the owner’s daughter, Rose Davenport (Thomasin McKenzie). When a murder occurs, Eric is wrongly accused, causing upheaval at the manor. IndieWire’s Elaina Patton gave the film a B grade, praising its constant stream of humor – including puns, witty dialogue, and physical comedy – while also noting that it has a surprisingly engaging storyline. Patton also shared her thoughts, stating:

This movie is packed with jokes – clever lines, references to pop culture, silly gags, and even pun-filled signs, like a play on ‘Taylor Swift’. The writers say there are almost 280 jokes, so you barely have time to react to one before the next one hits. While this fast-paced, over-the-top comedy isn’t new – it’s similar to films like Airplane! and The Naked Gun – it works because the movie cleverly parodies its genre, and the talented cast knows exactly how to maximize the humor in every scene.

Pete Hammond from Deadline notes that director Jim O’Hanlon and the writers successfully blended humor with a cohesive storyline. He believes the comedy is mostly funny, with more successful jokes than failures, describing it as ‘genuinely laugh-out-loud funny’ and then continues with his review.

Unlike many comedies that rely on random gags, this one features a genuinely engaging story with believable characters, and even a central romance. It’s also infused with a uniquely British sense of humor, delivered with a subtlety that’s a far cry from the over-the-top jokes in films like Scary Movie.

Okay, let me tell you, I was not expecting this! Patrick Gibbs over at SLUG Mag says Fackham Hall genuinely surprised him more than the recent Naked Gun reboot – and that’s saying something! He found it packed with genuinely funny moments, and what really struck him was how much fun the filmmakers were clearly having. That energy is totally infectious, and honestly, it made the whole experience a blast. I’m really intrigued now and eager to see what all the buzz is about!

Fackham Hall is delightfully silly and utterly pointless – and I loved every second of it, even enough to watch it twice while writing this review! I didn’t realize how much I needed a movie like this, but it’s genuinely lifted my spirits and reminded me of the power of laughter. It’s a film I won’t soon forget.

In a review for Variety, Owen Gleiberman found the movie mildly amusing, but lacking in truly hilarious moments. He pointed out that even when the film attempts to be shocking or risqué, the humor doesn’t quite hit the mark and feels a bit subdued.

Fackham Hall, directed by Jim O’Hanlon and written by a team of five comedians (Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, Tim Inman, Jimmy Carr, and Patrick Carr), is a parody that carefully mimics the world it’s making fun of. While I usually find that attention to detail enhances a comedy, this one feels too subdued, and most of the jokes don’t quite hit their mark. When they do get a reaction, it’s usually just a small chuckle.

Nell Minow from RogerEbert.com gave Fackham Hall a middling 2 out of 4 stars. She explains that the best parodies come from a genuine affection for the source material, but in this case, the jokes weren’t quite as effective as the filmmakers intended, according to her review.

I have to admit, what makes this show so fun to watch is exactly what it’s poking fun at! It’s all set in this amazing, old country house filled with beautiful things and people dressed in incredible period costumes. They even have these fantastic accents, from posh upper-class to charmingly common. The humor isn’t really about why we love those classic stories, it’s more about taking the silliest or most over-the-top parts and exaggerating them. Honestly, though, some of the jokes that probably sounded hilarious when they were written just don’t quite land on screen. You get a sense of the show’s style right away – even the name of the house is a bit of a cheeky, rude joke, and they have a character actually say the name out loud just to make sure we get it!

I’m really excited about Fackham Hall! Even though some critics weren’t huge fans, most people seem to be loving it – it’s got an 86% rating from 28 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences agree with an 82% score! It just came out in US theaters on December 5th, so I’m definitely going to check my local listings to see when I can go – it sounds like a hilarious spoof I don’t want to miss.

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2025-12-08 00:13