Is Downton Abbey: A New Era safe for kids? Is Downton Abbey: A New Era OK for children? Read the Downton Abbey: A New Era Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide to the Focus Features’ Downton Abbey 2 film sequel based on the popular English drama TV show series. No spoilers! #DowntonAbbey May contain commissioned links.
Downton Abbey: A New Era Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
Is hope a tease? Or are we all hopeless romantics? Downton Abbey fans may have a English escapism problem. It’s been 3 years since the release of the fan-driven Downton Abbey motion picture. And apparently, the story is not finished. The second full-length feature film spin-off based on the popular British historical drama TV series has arrived just in time for tea. And the Downton Abbey fandom is served.
But has this English royalty outlived our high class society taste?
In this Downton Abbey: A New Era Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m talking visuals, the story, a full PG rating breakdown for violence, adult themes and language, and sharing whether this film sequel is worth the royally long wait. A no spoiler parent review – this is the Downton Abbey: A New Era Parents Guide you want to read before having the kids join you on your English escapism journey.
The Visuals
It’s all about keeping up appearances. And for the new Downton Abbey: A New Era film, it’s still in the details. As the Crawley family enters the 1930s, we feel the visuals change with the sequel. Brighter colors, softer palettes, and beautiful costumes to match the period. Historical drama at the core with a touch of whimsy, warmness, and romance – Downton Abbey: A New Era visually feels like a new era has dawned on this film.
The Story
The most anticipated motion picture event of the season has arrived. Award winning creator Julian Fellowes returns to the big screen with Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel, along with all of the original cast including award-winning Maggie Smith (“Harry Potter“) as Violet Crawley, Hugh Bonneville (“Notting Hill“) as Robert Crawley/Lord Grantham, Elizabeth McGovern (“Ragtime“) as Cora Crawley/Lady Grantham, Michelle Dockery (“Anna Karenina“) as Lady Mary Talbot, Laura Carmichael (“A United Kingdom“) as Edith Pelham, and Allen Leech (“Bohemian Rhapsody“) as Tom Branson.
British historical drama meets mystery with the return of the Crawley family to the theaters. But if somehow you wandered into a Downton Abbey sequel without watching 6 seasons on TV or the first film, you might be a bit lost trying to keep up with all of the characters, stories and side stories.
Keeping up with the times, Downton Abbey has grown up too. A more mature sequel, it’s faster paced than the original film – with more drama, excitement, wit, wanderlust and escapism moments than I could have thought possible for a sequel. I daresay that I felt guilty for laughing out loud so many times – it almost felt scandalously improper.
While more exciting and adventurous, the script wasn’t exactly perfect. There were definitely times where the story felt forced, as if Fellowes took some extra liberties to tie up loose ends for what felt like THE finale to the Downton Abbey legacy. But for Downton Abbey fans, this sequel stands as a love letter to many years of faithful following. Condensing important family life milestone moments into a single 2 hour film, Fellowes wastes no time as the audience is immersed into a story that weaves life, death, scandal, love, loss, failures, hopes, and dreams at every corner. Maggie Smith shines once again as the star and matriarch of the family, proving that at age 87 that her tongue is still just as sharp as her mind.
Downton Abbey: A New Era PG Rating Explained
Is Downton Abbey: A New Era movie safe for kids? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all PG ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how movie ratings have shifted over the years with G-rated movies now a thing of the past.
PG age ratings now oscillating between Incredibles 2 intense to Christopher Robin calm, there’s a wide range between the age of 0 – 12 years old to consider. (Most recently, Turning Red had quite the PG rated controversy on social media.)
Why is Downton: Abbey: A New Era rated PG? In this Downton Abbey: A New Era Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, the new Downton Abbey 2 sequel film is rated PG for “thematic elements, some suggestive references, and language.” Is Downton Abbey: A New Era safe for kids? Or should parents be worried about a questionable PG rated Downton Abbey sequel film? Let’s breakdown that MPAA rating in this Downton Abbey: A New Era parents guide.
Violence. This may be a first for me. I cannot think of a single violent or suspenseful act in this film. No weapons, no threats, no physical fighting, no car chases. This is one of the most nonviolent films I’ve ever reviewed, and that’s saying something!
Adult Themes. Wine and alcohol consumption is present throughout the film, as expected. Only one scene shows a “shot” consumed, and one visual of secretive pouring from a flask in glasses. No one acts drunk or tipsy. There are also gambling references and visuals.
There are 4 instances of kissing between married couples, mostly mild with one passionate kiss with clothing on. The suggestive references refer to discussions about sex (mild references such as “when every man wants to give you one,” “ready to spring…on you,” and “idyllic interlude”), sexual orientation (those who have seen the series and the first film will understand the Harrow subplot), and flirting. While most references would go over the heads of young children, metaphors abound and questions may arise.
Grief and loss are possible triggers for adults and children.
Language. Overall mild for this film, however exponentially increased from the first film (which only had one swear word in the entire movie). 4 g-d references, 1 h-e-double-hockey-sticks and 1 bloody h-e-double-hockey sticks, 1 b@stard (used in correct connotation), and multiple instances of more mild insults such as “stupid” and “fools.” There is one “gosh” and one “vulgar” of note as well, but again, overall very mild bad language is said.
Downton Abbey: A New Era Age Rating for Kids
At a runtime of 2 hours 5 minutes, this lengthy English based drama series based film sequel is already pushing the limits of being ok for kids, despite being rated PG. Add heavy English accented dialogue, subtle humor, drama, and boredom factor, your child’s temperament and maturity level will play a huge part in determining if Downton Abbey: A New Era is kid friendly.
Even with the faster pace and more scene changes/action, it will be hard for kids to keep up with the story and characters, unless they truly love the series and/or the Downton Abbey original motion picture. Certainly not for young wiggle worms.
Downton Abbey 2 is on equal footing, comparable to the original motion picture film and the popular British television series.
The new Downton Abbey 2 sequel film is rated PG for “thematic elements, some suggestive references, and language.“
No end credit scene in the Downton Abbey 2 movie.
Based on my Downton Abbey: A New Era parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Downton Abbey: A New Era to kids younger than the age of 11-12 years old.
Yes, technically. But considering the full PG rating breakdown explained above, this parent movie reviewer still would not recommend Downton Abbey: A New Era movie for kids younger than 11-12 years old. Boredom is a huge consideration for the new Downton Abbey 2 movie. With subtle humor, sarcasm, dialogue and backstory to keep up with, Downton Abbey: A New Era is definitely made for a more mature audience. Without much action to keep kids engaged and entertained, this English historical based drama is escapism geared for adults.
I highly recommend parents prescreening Downton Abbey: A New Era film for the appropriateness of the adult themes and language for your kids, since all movie age ratings are not the same for all families.
The Overall
If Downton Abbey: A New Era is about serving the fans, do they get the royal treatment? History tends to repeat itself, but this time, history has leveled up. In the end, Downton Abbey places the period perfectly on this period piece. Like a strong cup of English tea, Downton Abbey: A New Era pours fans exactly what they’ve been craving – a HOT, clever historical drama with thoughtful writing, heart, and the sharp tongue of Maggie Smith. An end to the Downton Abbey dynasty – though certainly not the end to the legacy.
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It’s the event of the season! Downton Abbey: A New Era soirees into theaters on Friday May 20, 2022. Will your family be watching Downton Abbey 2 movie?
I was invited to screen this film in exchange for Downton Abbey: A New Era Movie Review | Safe for Kids? All photos courtesy of Focus Features. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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