Downton Abbey (2019) * * *

Directed by:  Michael Engler

Starring:  Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Matthew Goode, Phyllis Logan, Penelope Wilton, Simon Jones, Brendan Coyle

I went into Downton Abbey cold.   I never saw an episode and thankfully the filmmakers gave us a five-minute recap before the opening credits so I could at least have some clue as to who did what to whom.    I can't say I could fully follow everything covered in the recap, but I'm pleased to report
I enjoyed Downton Abbey and its lightweight, soap opera material.    I have no doubt the six preceding seasons delved much deeper into its characters, but as a neophyte to this world, Downton Abbey is a charming introduction.   For anglophiles who just adored the series, this is delicious icing
on the cake; momentarily satisfying but nothing that would be remembered in a month.

The story concerning the family and staff which reside at Downton Abbey circa late 1920's is the expected arrival of King George V and wife Mary of Teck.   Tensions arise when the house staff is supplanted by the king's personal staff, including a chef, butler, and a multitude of servants.   The Abbey staff is forced to gnash their teeth and sit on the sidelines as the interlopers rudely take over, but the Abbey servants, who serve their employers with pride, plot to rid themselves of the king's staff and serve the royals themselves. 

As for the Crawley family which occupies the upstairs of Downton Abbey, there are squabbles of their own to contend with, including a cousin who wants to bequeath her wealth to her maid, which causes consternation with Violet, the Dowager Countess (Smith), the comic relief of the film along with her counterpart who throw zingers at each other and make asides about the action with great zeal.   They remind me of the two old guys in the balcony in The Muppets who crack jokes about everyone.

With all of the characters and plotlines, Downton Abbey doesn't confuse us or madden us with
inside jokes or references.    This is a smart play.   Why create a Downton Abbey feature film just for loyal viewers?    Now, am I intrigued enough to go back and binge watch the previous seasons on-demand?   I'll get back to you on that.