What the Dickens is this? Michael Joyce finds this a disappointing Christmas flick
Who was, of course, Charles Dickens.
The film dramatises events around the writing of A Christmas Carol. Dickens is shown racing against time to finish the book for Christmas, the characters coming to life and arguing with him about how the book should be and reflecting back over his life with his father.
The Dickens is wrong with this film. It is a light piece but Dan Stevens’ take on the writer is still just too frivolous to give the film any depth. Racing around manically in a three piece suit and Beethoven hairdo, he resembles a failed Doctor Who audition, rejected for being a bit too obvious.
All the way through I was trying to think which British actor Stevens’ voice reminded me of.
There’s definite a strong initial whiff of Cumberbatch to it but eventually you realise he sounds like a composite of all of them.
Rating: 2/5 stars
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