Left to right: Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Michelle Dockery and Paul Giamatti in 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.' Rory Mulvey/Focus Features Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment "Sometimes I feel that the past is a more comfortable place than the future," muses one of the characters in the presumably final Downton Abbey film. That sentiment probably rings very true for the devoted fans of the long-running franchise that has included six television seasons and three theatrical films. While societal change is very much afoot in this installment set in 1930, Downton aficionados will be relieved to learn that nearly all of the familiar characters return (save, of course, for the deceased ones, and even they show up in one form or another) for this swan song reprising the familiar themes, subtle humor and elegant dramatics. Related Stories TV Dominic West, Sienna Miller to Lead Sky and HBO Legal Thriller 'War' From 'Hijack' Creator George Kay TV 'The Gilded Age' Star Denée Benton Talks Peggy's Epic Cinderella Moment and How a Season 4 Wedding Could Play Out It's a new character, however, that gives Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale its comedic juice, and he's a real-life one at that: Noel Coward (wonderfully played by Arty Froushan), who swoops in to provide the sort of barbed witticisms that Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess delivered with regularity. He's a wonderful addition to the overstuffed line-up, for which you practically need a scorecard to keep track. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale The Bottom Line An elegant farewell. Release date: Friday, Sept. 12Cast: Simon Russell Beale, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Alessandro Nivola, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Arty Froushan, Joely Richardson, Paul Copley, Douglas ReithDirector: Simon CurtisScreenwriter: Julian Fellowes Rated PG, 2 hous 23 minutes The story begins in 1930, with several members of both the upper-crust and servant-class inhabitants of Downton attending a performance of Coward's operetta Bitter Sweet in the West End (naturally, the latter are sitting up in the rafters). Although everyone seems to be having a fine time, it soon becomes clear that there's trouble brewing, especially when Robert (Hugh Bonneville), Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and Mary (Michelle Dockery) attend a high-society ball. When scandalous news of Mary's divorce becomes public, she becomes an instant pariah and is ordered to immediately leave by the officious hostess (Joely Richardson). Not much later, the arrival of Cora's brother Harold (Paul Giamatti, another cast highlight) from America brings more bad news. It seems that he, guided by his slick-talking financial adviser Gus Sambrook (Allesandro Nivola), has lost nearly all of his and Cora's late mother's fortune, putting Downton Abbey into dire financial straits. Mary doesn't learn about that until after she has a one-night stand with Gus, whose lighthearted American charm provides some temporary balm in her angst-ridden state. As is customary in the Downton universe, subplots of both the comical and dramatic variety abound. Here they include the impending retirement of butler Carson (Jim Carter, always wonderful), all too reluctant to hand over the reins to his respectful but eager replacement Andy (Michael Fox), who isn't shy about doing things differently. There's also the matter of the upcoming County Fair, now led by Isobel (Penelope Wilton, delightful), who shakes things up by inviting Carson and cook Daisy (Sophie McShera) onto the board. This invasion of the lower classes doesn't sit well at all with County Fair official and pompous snob Sir Hector Moreland (Simon Russell Beale, stealing every scene he's in), whose dialogue could well be summed up as "harrumph." Another major plot element is Cora's effort to restore her daughter's reputation by throwing a party, which runs into a snag when their neighbors refuse to attend. Mary's enterprising sister Edith (Laura Carmichael) devises a plan to invite Coward, in whose show their friend Guy Dexter (Dominic West), now secretly in a relationship with their former servant Thomas (Robert James-Collier), is appearing. News of Coward's impending attendance, spread by the area's servants, results in a triumphant event in which Coward not only sings a song but also, upon hearing of Mary's divorce, hatches the plot for Private Lives. It's a lot to take in, frankly, and there are times when you long for the comparatively relaxed pace of the series episodes. But Julian Fellowes' typical witty script proves a pleasure throughout, especially in such stellar scenes as wh