Downton Abbey has been a decent series about an aristocratic family whose head married an American woman. Unlike most series, the wokeness was kept to a minimum and the drama wasn't (too much) exaggerated compared to US soaps. This movie is a good conclusion to the saga.
Seemingly out of the blue, the Dowager Duchess receives a letter saying that she inherited a mansion in southern France. Well, maybe not: she had met this Marquis de Montmirail long ago for about a week. And his wife wants to protest against that will. Meanwhile, Downton is welcoming the filming of a movie. While there is strong resistance at first, a leaky attic convinces Lord Grantham to cave in.
If you liked the TV series, you will certainly like the movie. You see the same characters (and a few new ones) and their stories continues from the series. I haven't watched the first movie, so I might have missed a few details. But nevertheless, it's very entertaining.
In the movie subscenario, you see the evolution of cinema. The movie was a silent one at first, but the producer switches to a "talkie" midway because it would otherwise be shut. The main female star doesn't have the right voice, so they have to dub her...
And in France, they chose real French actors. The tension around a surprising revelation is well-done, and Mr Carson could be considered a good comical relief among the drama. He keeps his British suits despite the scorching heat and reminds the French staff how things are done.
Slight downturn: We don't see enough of the Duchess. But what we do see is what you can expect of her.
In short, this movie is a must-see for fans of the show. It's most likely a conclusion of the saga, and a very interesting one. It's fun to finally watch a movie that doesn't moralize. The very few "modern" themes it tries to include are well-integrated to the story, and rather subtely.