“This is like a testimonial to the great comedians of our time. “
Con Nats
3.5 Stars or Fackhams
With a name like FACKHAM Hall (say it three times, quickly) with the motto of “Incestus ad Infinitum” adorned over the front gates, and Jimmy Carr amongst the writing team, you know you’re in for a fun day.
Poppy Davenport (Emma Laird) is scheduled to marry her first cousin, Archibald (Tom Felton) to keep Fakham Hall in the family as their four sons, John, Paul, George and Ringo all died prematurely. Poppy changes her mind at the altar, and runs away with the Manure Delivery Man, so the pressure is on Rose (Thomasin McKenzie) – a washed up old hag at age 23 – to marry or they would lose their estate. But Rose has fallen for Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), an orphan and pickpocket she ran over on his way to deliver a letter to her father, Humphrey (Damian Lewis), and ends up taking a job as a servant. He is on his way to romance when a murder happens and Eric is the suspect.
Let’s be honest, the plot isn’t that important. This is Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie meets Flying High. It’s a framework to squeeze in as much humour as humanly possible. With a team of five writers, they’ve made sure not a pun is missed, a line squeezed for a laugh or a moment missed. It’s relentless in its pursuit of humour.
Director Jim O’Hanlon keeps it all at a cracking pace. It’s so thick and fast, it’s hard to keep up. This humour harks back to the Goons and Python teams and is very British. There are a few nods to them, and this film takes the Python’s Willy song one step further, and there is a rerun of ‘Who’s on first’ when Doctor Watt turns up. This is like a testimonial to the great comedians of our time.
The cast is full of familiar faces from British comedy and shows like The Royles which means the comic timing is spot on and execution of jokes is near perfect. Jimmy Carr gives himself two fun skits as the Vicar. If a joke fails, never mind, there’s another one a minute later.
All the leads are on song and this is full of chuckles, wit and good old slapstick. It’s a fun way to spend a day at Fackham Hall.
3.5 Fackhams
Con Nats, On The Screen
