DOWNTON ABBEY

DOWNTON ABBEY:  This highly anticipated movie following the Crawley family and their servants to the big screen was well worth the wait.  It is a splendid piece of work.  With all of the original cast returning, it is an absolute joy to see them  again along with a few new faces, notably Imelda Staunton as Lady Bagshaw.  (In real life, married to Jim Carter who plays Mr. Carson, the head butler) In this outing, there is a bit of an uproar when the Crawleys learn that King Edward V and Queen Mary are about to pay them a visit.  And what fun that is, watching the household prepare for such an auspicious occasion, with the wonderful Maggie Smith offering pertinent remarks along the way.  The fly in the ointment, however, is when the household learns that the Royals travel with their own chef and other assistants (even a housekeeper) which sends the downstairs help into a tizzy with all sorts of schemes and shenanigans  arising.  New love interests also make an appearance and may leave a tiny bit of room for another future film.  (Here's hoping!)  If you were a fan of the wonderful BBC series, (or even if it's new to you) treat yourself to this sumptuous look at Downton Abbey in this excellent film written and directed by Julian Fellowes.