The Personal History of David Copperfield Movie Review

The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)

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Written by: Simon Blackwell (screenplay by), Charles Dickens (novel), Armando Iannucci (screenplay)
Directed by: Armando Iannucci
Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi, Gwendoline Christie, Ben Whishaw, Benedict Wong
Rated: PG
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Plot
A modern take on Charles Dickens's classic tale of a young orphan who is able to triumph over many obstacles.

Verdict
We get to see Copperfield's life story, at least the story he presents as we wonder where the line of truth and entertainment divides the two. It's a fun and often whimsical story, though I wish there was something driving the plot. This doesn't answer the question of how events really did or didn't happen. While it's the story of Copperfield achieving his life's goals, we pretty much knew that already with the scenes that frame the movie.
It depends.

Review
David Copperfield wants to be a writer and a gentleman. Copperfield frames the movie which is the story of his life by telling an audience his story. We don't quite know if the story we're being told is what happened or merely the story he's using to entertain.

Dev Patel plays David Copperfield.

This starts with Copperfield's birth. We watch him as an adult looking back on the event. This presentation makes it difficult to discern the line between fantasy and life. A step-father and that man's sister enter his life causing strife. He lives an interesting and whimsical life. Some of the experiences he discusses seem like a story idea a child would have. Does a family really live in an upside down boat? Is his life's story as intriguing as the story he relays. The people he meet are interesting, but often absurdly so.

Copperfield desires to live a life worth writing about, or a life worth embellishing. This doesn't have a plot, we see his life, at least the life he describes. These are the events that inspire his book, but we're also hearing him tell this story. We don't know how the two fit together and separate. Where is the truth?