A Christmas Carol is a story that is very near and dear to my heart. I first read Charles Dickens' classic novel many years ago, and I honestly don't remember much about it beyond the fact that it was surprisingly short. However, the story of A Christmas Carol has transcended Dickens' prose to become something much greater. Theaters all around the world perform the story each and every year, and when I was in high school, I played Bob Cratchit in a play adaptation of the book. Like all of my experiences with theater, it was miserable at the time, but it's a rather fond memory in hindsight. I know the story like the back of my hand, to the point that I'm able to quote lines with astounding ease. The Man Who Invented Christmas is not a film that has been on my radar for too long, but Bleecker Street managed to get this one into theaters just in time for the holiday season. Good timing on their part, because I definitely went into this movie hoping for something to get me in the Christmas mood.
Images courtesy of Bleecker Street
Despite its cheerful spirit, Bharat Nalluri's film is pleasant but wholly unremarkable. It's hard to dislike a film that feels so warm and inviting, but The Man Who Invented Christmas provides little revolutionary information about the mind of its subject, nor does it deliver anything beyond fundamental filmmaking competence. Dan Stevens is undoubtedly terrific as the cash-strapped author, further cementing his status as one of the best rising stars in Hollywood today. Unfortunately, the film surrounding him feels like it was made for TV before being re-purposed for the big screen. While the line between movies and television is virtually non-existent with stuff like Stranger Things and Mindhunter, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when you see this film. From both an aesthetic and narrative perspective, The Man Who Invented Christmas feels like a muddled disappointment, even though most audiences will get exactly what they came for.
It's late in 1843, and after the runaway success of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens (Stevens) has had a string of failures. Despite a popular book tour in America, Dickens is running into serious money problems thanks to the expensive renovations on his house. With little confidence from his publishers, Dickens comes up with a game-changing idea- he'll write a book about Christmas. At the time, Christmas is an unpopular holiday, rarely celebrated by anyone. But Dickens' innovative concept will change it all, and with a little help from Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), one of the greatest books of all time will be written. But it won't be easy. In addition to the erratic presence of his father (Jonathan Pryce) and a growing conflict with his wife (Morfydd Clarke), Dickens has to write the book in only 6 weeks, placing a gripping timeline on the construction of a literary classic. Will Dickens be able to reconcile his personal and professional life to create one of his most famous works? Well, you already know the answer to that.
There's nothing wrong with an agreeable movie now and then, and I have a feeling that the flaws of The Man Who Invented Christmas will be forgivable for many. After all, it's a movie about Christmas that is coming out at precisely the right time, and even I was willing to let some of its missteps slide in favor of good old-fashioned holiday cheer. But there's something off about this film, particularly in the way it looks and the way it's scripted. The latter aspect is more expected, as this is a fairly stodgy biopic without much in the way of cutting-edge innovation or unique story mechanics. However, the film's theatrical staging and the aforementioned TV movie aesthetic become the most nagging issues here. The Man Who Invented Christmas is distinctly un-cinematic, and while most films set in the Victorian Era carry the feeling of a plastic and fake reproduction, there's something noticeably strange about each and every visual choice in this movie.
But these are minor quibbles in comparison to what is ultimately the film's downfall- its tangled narrative web that doesn't amount to anything until the very end of the movie. Essentially, The Man Who Invented Christmas has to tell the story of A Christmas Carol, Dickens' process while writing A Christmas Carol, and the trauma of his own family history, tying everything together in a way that makes sense. Sadly, it really doesn't. As much as the film tries to make an equivalence between its protagonist and the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, it's something that just never really works. I guess one could make a loose connection in that Scrooge and Dickens are both overcoming their own demons, but that's a very flimsy basis for a full-length film. Director Bharat Nalluri and screenwriter Susan Coyne want to play off the iconography of A Christmas Carol while also putting their own twist on the material, and it just never feels insightful. The result is a film that feels clumsy and ill-advised, a mish-mash of ideas that should have been hammered out well before filming began.
Of course, it's not all bad. I became a fan of Dan Stevens after his starring role in Adam Wingard's The Guest, and he continues his hot streak with his performance as the legendary Charles Dickens. Stevens is able to channel a cunning mixture of profound likability and subtle arrogance, and it's a combination that works well for Dickens. Christopher Plummer also gives a finely tuned performance as Scrooge, and it's always a delight to see Jonathan Pryce show up in a movie. And beyond that, the film does a good job of conjuring up a bit of Christmas magic, especially at the end. The messy narrative is tied up with a satisfying little bow, and I can't deny that it made me smile.
It's just unfortunate that The Man Who Invented Christmas feels so easy. You know how comic book movies are constantly referencing other superheroes and making jokes that only fans will get? Well, this movie is kinda like that for literary adaptations. Towards the end of the film, after Dickens has (spoiler?) finished writing A Christmas Carol, he literally quotes a line from his own work. Oh, and then he meets a guy named David Copperfield right after that. Maybe this all really did happen in real life, but in the film, it just feels like an easy target. While this review may sound harsh, I can't say that I disliked The Man Who Invented Christmas. The word that keeps coming to mind is "pleasant," and I heard somebody this weekend describe it as "nice." That it is, but it's also a very easy movie to pick apart. If you think you'll enjoy it, you probably will, but if it's not your cup of tea, you'll be more irked than entertained. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle.
It's late in 1843, and after the runaway success of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens (Stevens) has had a string of failures. Despite a popular book tour in America, Dickens is running into serious money problems thanks to the expensive renovations on his house. With little confidence from his publishers, Dickens comes up with a game-changing idea- he'll write a book about Christmas. At the time, Christmas is an unpopular holiday, rarely celebrated by anyone. But Dickens' innovative concept will change it all, and with a little help from Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), one of the greatest books of all time will be written. But it won't be easy. In addition to the erratic presence of his father (Jonathan Pryce) and a growing conflict with his wife (Morfydd Clarke), Dickens has to write the book in only 6 weeks, placing a gripping timeline on the construction of a literary classic. Will Dickens be able to reconcile his personal and professional life to create one of his most famous works? Well, you already know the answer to that.
There's nothing wrong with an agreeable movie now and then, and I have a feeling that the flaws of The Man Who Invented Christmas will be forgivable for many. After all, it's a movie about Christmas that is coming out at precisely the right time, and even I was willing to let some of its missteps slide in favor of good old-fashioned holiday cheer. But there's something off about this film, particularly in the way it looks and the way it's scripted. The latter aspect is more expected, as this is a fairly stodgy biopic without much in the way of cutting-edge innovation or unique story mechanics. However, the film's theatrical staging and the aforementioned TV movie aesthetic become the most nagging issues here. The Man Who Invented Christmas is distinctly un-cinematic, and while most films set in the Victorian Era carry the feeling of a plastic and fake reproduction, there's something noticeably strange about each and every visual choice in this movie.
But these are minor quibbles in comparison to what is ultimately the film's downfall- its tangled narrative web that doesn't amount to anything until the very end of the movie. Essentially, The Man Who Invented Christmas has to tell the story of A Christmas Carol, Dickens' process while writing A Christmas Carol, and the trauma of his own family history, tying everything together in a way that makes sense. Sadly, it really doesn't. As much as the film tries to make an equivalence between its protagonist and the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, it's something that just never really works. I guess one could make a loose connection in that Scrooge and Dickens are both overcoming their own demons, but that's a very flimsy basis for a full-length film. Director Bharat Nalluri and screenwriter Susan Coyne want to play off the iconography of A Christmas Carol while also putting their own twist on the material, and it just never feels insightful. The result is a film that feels clumsy and ill-advised, a mish-mash of ideas that should have been hammered out well before filming began.
Of course, it's not all bad. I became a fan of Dan Stevens after his starring role in Adam Wingard's The Guest, and he continues his hot streak with his performance as the legendary Charles Dickens. Stevens is able to channel a cunning mixture of profound likability and subtle arrogance, and it's a combination that works well for Dickens. Christopher Plummer also gives a finely tuned performance as Scrooge, and it's always a delight to see Jonathan Pryce show up in a movie. And beyond that, the film does a good job of conjuring up a bit of Christmas magic, especially at the end. The messy narrative is tied up with a satisfying little bow, and I can't deny that it made me smile.
It's just unfortunate that The Man Who Invented Christmas feels so easy. You know how comic book movies are constantly referencing other superheroes and making jokes that only fans will get? Well, this movie is kinda like that for literary adaptations. Towards the end of the film, after Dickens has (spoiler?) finished writing A Christmas Carol, he literally quotes a line from his own work. Oh, and then he meets a guy named David Copperfield right after that. Maybe this all really did happen in real life, but in the film, it just feels like an easy target. While this review may sound harsh, I can't say that I disliked The Man Who Invented Christmas. The word that keeps coming to mind is "pleasant," and I heard somebody this weekend describe it as "nice." That it is, but it's also a very easy movie to pick apart. If you think you'll enjoy it, you probably will, but if it's not your cup of tea, you'll be more irked than entertained. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle.
THE FINAL GRADE: C+ (6.2/10)
Images courtesy of Bleecker Street
Comments
Post a Comment