A One Mann’s Movies review of “Fackham Hall” (2025, 2*, 15).
This Downton-esque parody – “Fackham Hall” – was actually the last of the 214 new films that I saw during 2025, but due to all of the end-of-year-list stuff I’m just really slow to write this up. I’m even finding it a struggle to bother to put (digital) pen to paper on this, which probably tells you most of what you need to know!
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Eric (Ben Radcliffe) is a penniless orphan from the big smoke hired to deliver a package to the wealthy Davenport family (family motto “Incestus ad Infinitum”!) at their stately pile, Fackham Hall. There he meets and falls for the Davenport’s unmarried daughter Rose (Thomasin McKenzie) so inveigles himself into a serving position in the house to see more of her.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language, sex references.”)
Talent:
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Damian Lewis, Hayley Mills, Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton, Emma Laird, Adam Woodward, Lily Knight, Erin Austen, Lizzie Hopley, Jason Done, Ramon Tikaram, Sue Johnston, Anna Maxwell Martin, Jimmy Carr.
Directed by: Jim O’Hanlon.
Written by: Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, Tim Inman, Jimmy Carr & Patrick Carr. (Based on an original idea by Jimmy Carr & Patrick Carr.)
Running Time: 1h 37m.
Summary:
Positives:
- The film is not without comic moments generating the odd laugh.
- Thomasin McKenzie and Damian Lewis are both good value.
Negatives:
- Most of the jokes were smile-worthy rather than laugh-out-loud and a good proportion were lead weights.
- Some gags were milked way beyond their sell-by-date.
Full Review of “Fackham Hall”:
“The Naked Gun” or “Fackham Hall”?
One thing that this film makes you realise is just how few proper comedy films get released these days: films that are purely designed to at least try to make you laugh through utter silliness. We still have “Lady” to be released in the UK, but aside from ‘comic’ films like “Anaconda” (review to follow) and “Spinal Tap 2” it is only really “The Naked Gun” that comes to mind as a similar film to this one. And these films really make you appreciate that, if film appreciation is subjective, then film comedy appreciation is utterly subjective.
We recently posted our Flickering Dreams podcast for “The Worst Films of 2025” and “The Naked Gun” was jointly voted as the worst film of the year: a decision I personally disagreed with, but that’s democracy for you! But I laughed a lot more in “The Naked Gun” than I did in “Fackham Hall”. Yes, there were some good gags in here: I enjoyed some of the riffs with JRR Tolkein (Jason Done) gaining inspiration for his masterwork; the butler Cyril (Tim McMullan) being referred to as “Siri” and responding appropriately; and the joke about the Bechdel sisters (both Erin Austen), both constantly chattering on about men, was very clever (look up Bechdel test if you are not in the know!).
But while there WERE a few laughs, I’m afraid this failed to meet the ‘6-laugh test’ for me for a comedy. Most of my reactions were mere smiles.
Carr drones on.
A lot of the gags – I would estimate about 60% – fell on very stony ground for me, some purely from over-milking: even the Tolkein jokes started to get tiresome. In particular, Jimmy Carr’s vicar, creating innuendo by failing to recognise punctuation in his sermon, was straight out of a particularly third-rate episode of “The Two Ronnies”. It was amusing the first time, but after another ten or so times it fell into the “please for God’s sake STOP” category of bad.
Actors new to comedy.
Once of the interesting things about this movie are the number of ‘straight’ actors who are flexing their muscles in the world of comedy.
Thomasin McKenzie once again proved what a versatile young actress she is, coming off very well. Damian Lewis seems to be having a lot of fun with his Lord Davenport, playing well off Katherine Waterston as his wife. (It’s a shame the film went down a bit of an odd offshoot with the murder-mystery angle.) And it’s always good to see Tom Felton on the big screen.
Summary Thoughts:
Fackham Hall is smile-worthy, but little more for me. Many in the cinema were almost wetting themselves with laughter though, so it again shows how subjective film comedy is.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuO5WI1S7F0. Note that this is the red-band trailer.
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