Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
Starring: Dan Stevens. Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Morfydd Clark, Miriam Margolyes, Anna Murphy
The Man Who Invented Christmas speculates how Charles Dickens was inspired to write A Christmas Carol, his most enduring and endeared work in a literary career which included Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens was a rock star among authors in his day. Most writers would be fortunate to write one timeless classic, Dickens wrote at least five. But, it is A Christmas Carol, seen in this movie as a desperate cash grab, which remains perhaps his most famous work.
The film's plot evokes Shakespeare in Love, with a thirtyish Dickens (Stevens) having severe writer's block and desperately needing a hit after three flops in a row and a mountain of debt piling up due to home repairs and an ever-growing family. He can't write a thing, even as he promises to publish a new Christmas novel six weeks out from the holiday. But, the young Dickens receives his inspiration from some unlikely sources. One is his new maid Tara (Murphy), who shows Dickens a ghost story she enjoys, and a chance encounter with a mean, old miser (Plummer), who becomes his Ebenezer Scrooge.
The characters sprout to life in his head, but follow him around as a reminder of the pending deadline and how A doesn't exactly lead to B or C in the novel's plot. How does he write a satisfying ending in time? His imaginary Scrooge is no help, as he taunts the vexed Dickens with reminders of his failure. Dickens' own life has some parallels to the story, including a stint in a London workhouse as a child due to his father's (Pryce) irresponsibility and failure to pay debts. His father pops in, forever looking to borrow money from his strapped son, which exasperates Charles to no end. Can Charles work out his own demons as a way to achieve the ending he desires?
All of this sounds more intriguing than it actually is. Charles is provided Eureka! moments as he encounters an elderly waiter named Marley, a heartless politician who gives Charles the whole "are they no workhouses?" speech at a speaking engagement, a boy with a crutch who serves as Tiny Tim, etc. etc. While these scenes are fleetingly cute, they don't provide much dramatic pull, which can be said for the entire movie. There are brief scenes in which we think we are on to something, only to realize these moments are islands onto themselves. There is no big emotional tug to keep us interested from beginning to end.
Dickens, as played by Stevens, is a rather combustible, egotistical fellow whom one could argue is the younger version of Scrooge himself. He mugs often, coming off as a cartoonish version of the great author. Plummer, with his quietly cruel take on Scrooge (or the inspiration behind him), recites some of the famous Scrooge quotes with the authority such as great veteran like he can provide. He doesn't ham it up, which makes it all the more menacing. Another great film and stage veteran, Jonathan Pryce, is a joyous guy who is completely irresponsible with money, but we know he has a big heart. We wish Charles would give him a break already. Dickens' wife (Clark) isn't given much to do except look disappointed, puzzled, or be in the dark about her husband's business.
The Man Who Invented Christmas has the feel of a Hallmark holiday movie, with a cutesy score and broad plot points we can see coming a mile away. Its vision of 1843 London is convincing enough and in the end, the epilogue tells us how A Christmas Carol became an instant hit and changed the way Christmas was celebrated as a holiday of charity, love, and warmth. Tell that to the people who will run you over on Black Friday while trying to get their hands on the latest gadgets on sale between 6-10am.
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