On-Air Film Review: Genteel ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 20, 2022 - 3:45pm

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 19th, reviewing “Downtown Abbey: A New Era,” the second film version of the mega-popular BBC/PBS series, in theaters beginning May 20th.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

It’s the continuing adventures of the Crawleys (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern), the wealthy English proprietors and their servants of Downton Abbey. In this second film based from the TV series, the new era has begun, as the Crawleys have found that Countess Violet, AKA Granny (Maggie Smith) has inherited a French villa through mysterious circumstances. At the same time, a film crew arrives at Downton, to shoot a silent film that halfway through production has to convert to a talkie, aided by Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery). The Crawleys head to France with loyal butler Carson (Jim Carter), while the film crew rolls on.

“Downton Abbey: A New Era” is in theaters beginning May 20th. Featuring Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Allan Leech, Imelda Staton, Michelle Dockery and Maggie Smith. Written by Julian Fellowes. Directed by Simon Curtis. Rated “PG-13”