The Man Who Invented Christmas is a fresh take on Charles Dickens’ most famous tale
Dan Stevens plays the perfect Dickens and the film is a traditional, charming Christmas film for the holidays
It's officially time to eat mince pies, put the tree up, listen to The Pogues and watch Christmas movies, which is a good job as The Man Who Invented Christmas is a delightfully fun 100mins bringing a fresh perspective to the greatest Christmas tale of all.
Dan Stephens is Charles Dickens - not the old Victorian fart you imagined as a child, but a bona fide celebrity who, after the worldwide success and fortune of Oliver Twist but the subsequent failures of it’s follow ups - is in dire need of a hit and the riches it would bring.
Problem is, he’s suffering from acute writer’s block and in a moment of madness, promises a Christmas book to his publishers which needs to be written within a few weeks.
Panicking, he draws inspiration from all around - interweaving real-life events, dreams and hallucinations until a very familiar, grouchy old bugger starts to visit the depths of his
brilliant mind… one Ebeneezer Scrooge.
This is a really traditional, charming and watchable Christmas film. Dan Stephens is a great Dickens and Plumber is just the right side of scary to give his Scrooge the perfect measure of wickedness.
MOST READ IN FILM
I can’t imagine much of this actually happened, but where would we be without a little leeway at Christmas eh?
A proper family film.
PS. Extra points if you can spot the subtle Star Wars reference too!
The Man Who Invented Christmas (PG) 104mins
Rating: ★★★☆☆