"Not bloody likely...."
This enjoyable piece of whimsy manages to concoct a reasonable fiction of the creation of A Christmas Carol, presenting the Dickens phenomenon as the 1840s equivalent of J.K. Rowling's modern-day Potter success (which of course the author was). Desperate for a hit and for money to support his lavish new lifestyle and ever-expanding family, this film takes an interesting Pirandello-style approach to the creative process and newly-emerging characters coming to life and challenging their writer as Dickens also comes to terms with his own past and looks to the future. There are three main threads that are almost integrated effectively: Dickens the man and writer, his relationship with his father and of course the writing of one of his most-loved titles. Dan Stevens proves yet again to be a wonderfully versatile and precise actor in the lead role, Christopher Plummer is cast magnificently as Scrooge (who challenges and hectors his creator in true character manner), Morfydd Clark does some lovely work as the author's patient wife, and a load of recognisable Brit character actors thesp away hammily. Fans of Dickens, period films and, well, Christmas will enjoy this pleasant and well-made piece of light seasonal fayre.
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