The Personal History of David Copperfield

2020 • 119 minutes
3.4
43 reviews
92%
Tomatometer
PG
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

Dev Patel leads an ensemble cast of talented stage and screen actors from across the world in this lavish, tongue-in-cheek reimagining from Searchlight Pictures of Charles Dickens' classic story. After suffering through his earlier life as an impoverished orphan, things take an intriguing turn for David Copperfield (Patel) when he meets up with his outrageous, well-to-do aunt Betsey Trotwood (Tilda Swinton). Following a new trajectory, Copperfield embraces danger, treachery, romance, and ultimately the chance to shine as a writer in Victorian England. Directed by Armando Iannucci with a screenplay by Iannucci and Simon Blackwell based on Dickens' novel, The Personal History of David Copperfield also stars Aneurin Barnard, Peter Capaldi, Morfydd Clark, Daisy May Cooper, Rosalind Eleazar, Hugh Laurie, Ben Whishaw and Paul Whitehouse.
Rating
PG

Ratings and reviews

3.4
43 reviews
Hannah Brady
November 21, 2020
I read and loved the book, so I was a bit disappointed with the movie. They condensed a lot of the story, which I expected, but they also changed several major characters in subtle but important ways. It's never really fair to compare the book and the movie, so it's difficult for me to be impartial, but I think if they had been truer to the characters I would have enjoyed it more.
49 people found this review helpful
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deborah elliott
January 24, 2021
A little too Polyanna and exuberant, not in keeping with the tone of the original book, which is a more finely tuned balance between happiness and sadness. Too idealistic for me.
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Xaldin Nix
November 19, 2020
I've not read the book mind you, however I did very much enjoy the movie .Has a real The Grand Budapest Hotel feel to it!
58 people found this review helpful
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