There have been many film versions of the Charles Dickens story, but this film was focusing on how the famous 19th century author came to write A Christmas Carol, it had positive reviews from critics, and a great cast, so I was really looking forward to it. Basically set in the Victorian era, two years after the success of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) is having financial troubles due to his previous three books being flops, he sets out to write a new book to restore his finances. Dickens decides to write a Christmas story and self-publish it, but he has less than two months, six weeks, in order to complete it. He struggles with writer's block at first, and he is distracted by his estranged father John (Jonathan Pryce) and mother Elizabeth (Ger Ryan) coming to live with him. But Dickens finds inspiration all around London, most notably witnessing a rich man's largely unattended funeral. This inspires him to create his iconic leading character, the cold-hearted miserly Ebenezer Scrooge only cares about money, and hates Christmas, calling it a "humbug". As Dickens develops his story, he finds himself interacting with his characters in his imagination, Scrooge (Christopher Plummer) in particular. Dickens is haunted by the memories of his childhood, where his father abandoned him due to his financial irresponsibility, but he is helped by Irish immigrant Tara (Anna Murphy), one of his servants, who reads his work and gives him advice. Dickens comes up with the story that the miserable old man will be haunted and warned by his dead partner Jacob Marley (Donald Sumpter) that he must change his ways, and this will be followed by three further spirits of Christmas Past (also Murphy), Christmas Present (Justin Edwards) and Christmas Yet to Come. But Dickens cannot find a resolve Scrooge's story, Tara hears that he will let the character of Tiny Tim (Pearse Kearney) die, Tara suggest that Scrooge should save the little boy instead. In frustration, Charles rejects Tara's help and sends her away in a fit of rage, he also sends his parents away after discovering that his father has been selling his signature. In flashbacks, we discover that the animosity Charles feels for his father is from embarrassment during childhood, he worked in a blacking factory and was teased by other children. Charles returns to the long-abandoned factory to confront his own insecurities through Scrooge, he realises that his story should be one of redemption, and races home to finish his manuscript, A Christmas Carol. As Dickens leaves to submit the story to his illustrator, he encounters Tara and invites him back. His wife Kate (Morfydd Clark) says he should also reconcile with his father, who is about to leave London on a train, he also briefly meets a man with the surname Copperfield (as in David Copperfield). With his family reconnected, Charles submits the manuscript in time for publishing before Christmas, and it ends with the Dickens family celebrating the holidays. The text at the end explains that A Christmas Carol was published on 19th December 1843, becoming an overnight success, with very copy sold out by Christmas Eve, it has become one of the bestselling books of all time, forever changing how we celebrate Christmas, reminding us of the joy to be found in friendship, kindness and generosity. Also starring Simon Callow as John Leech, Donald Sumpter as Haddock, Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Fisk, Ian McNeice as Chapman, Bill Paterson as Mr. Grimsby, John Henshaw as Butcher / Mr. Fezziwig, EastEnders' Annette Badland as Mrs. Fezziwig, Justin Edwards as John Forster, Miles Jupp as Thackeray, Jasper Hughes Cotter as Walter Dickens, James Heffernan as Charley Dickens, Aleah Lennon as Mamie Dickens, Ella Mai Delaney as Katey Dickens, Ely Solan as Young Charles, Marcus Lamb as Reverend Henry Burnett / Bob Cratchit, Katie McGuinness as Fanny Dickens / Mrs. Cratchit and Pearse Kearney as Henry Jr. Stevens is really likeable as the famous novelist in the process or creating a masterpiece, and Plummer is perfectly cast as the Scrooge of Dickens' imagination, rather than a dull biopic movie, this is a comic insight into how he came to write the famous seasonal story, it is funny at the right moments, but also poignant, it really captures the spirit of the original story it explores, and the period detail is exquisite, a fresh and heart-warming take on a classic, a most enjoyable biographical comedy drama. Very good!
Review of The Man Who Invented Christmas
