For instance, Carson is the most against the production movie company's disruption of the house, so they send him to France... But wouldn't he be better batting heads with the studio? God knows, that would have made for a terrific episode...
As for the overall drama/melodrama that the series is
known for, there aren't too many shocks or surprises except for a
searing epilogue, a few near-trysts along the way and, not counting a
semi-intriguing history lesson about silent film stars fearing the
introduction of "talkies" (already known from Singin' in the Rain), it's
in one ear, out the other, and without any necessary tension or
conflict... Ironically, up on the big screen, the characters seem
much smaller, somehow, while the director doesn't savor the
larger-than-life beauty and elegance of Downton or even France for that
matter...Then again, for lightweight comedy, it's not a bad
90-minutes: Just don't except A New Era to equal the terrific British
series that, for the most part, feels far too "Hollywood" here. Rates: **
