Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Whitewashing his marriage--THE INVISIBLE WOMAN here's where he got the inspiration for this and that and that a bit of a dick The timing of "The Man Who Invented Christmas" seems a bit unusual in that back only a few years before, the film "The Invisible Woman" came out and the latter film would seem to contradict much of the nice-guy image they created. So, in "The Invisible Woman", you learn that Charles Dickens had a wife who was perpetually pregnant with his children...only to be dumped by Charles for another woman. In "The Man Who Invented Christmas", you have a man who has some personal demons BUT who was essentially a nice-guy and who was a really swell guy by the end of the movie. Clearly, the latter film used a bit of artistic license!The story is about the creation of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"...and the creative process going on behind the scenes. Some of this is clever but too much of it, to me, seemed like they were tossing in all sorts of references too often. Regardless, by the end of the story, Dickens is beloved and all is good.If it sounds like I did not love this film, that's true. While the critics seemed to really like it, I felt that the story is pretty much one that Dickens fans would love...while others would like it as well IF they didn't know that the man was extremely flawed. Overall, watchable but also it's a film that tries too hard to make something special happen.

The journey that led to Charles Dickens' creation of "A Christmas Carol," a timeless tale that would redefine Christmas. Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer are two very likable and talented actors for sure but 'The Man Who Invented Christmas' was missing the Christmas spirit quite alot and unfortunately it's well known actors couldn't save it from falling apart. The storyline was interesting but the execution wasn't that good tho and the acting although good the characters were missing something as a whole for sure and it was quite disappointing. (3/10)

Now this kind of a movie is really a treat for book lovers in general and Dicken's fans all around the world. Why? Because it really shows you how an idea is conceived and how a writer struggles to put it on paper while dealing with the life that runs around him/her. This movie diligently explores the period of Dicken's life when he was suffering through a financial crisis too and was adamant to keep it hidden from his family while keep his extravagant lifestyle still in order. When he pitched his publisher the idea of The Christmas carol who was reluctant to invest on him anymore due to past few failed books, writing this became imperative not only because of the passion he felt for what was coming but also as this was his only way out. When the support of the publisher is ultimately denied, he decides to publish it himself.The Man who invented Christmas beautifully depicts this journey of writing The Christmas carol. We also get a glimpse of the tragic and lesser known phase of Dicken's childhood where he was abandoned to work in labour factories due to his father's irresponsible ways. While reminiscing some of the most painful memories and trying to decode his fictional tale, dickens start writing the Christmas carol and healing some of his long hidden demons.The screenplay is strictly kept in the confines as to understand the psychology of the writer who gave us one the best Christmas tales ever created. Charles Dickens is played with adequate charm and perseverance by Dan Stevens. The characters of the book are also provided a real presentation on screen as real people crowding Dickens at all times. I don't really need to comment about Christopher Plummer's acting because he is flawless and he so aptly portrays the role of scrooge that we only knew so well in our minds so far. He is dark, mocking and disturbs even Dickens while dealing with him on paper. His darkness is hard to break. But dickens wins at the end as the history says it all through the book's success. All the supporting characters of the movie provide enough spine to keep the movie going without feeling lacking of a narrative. The old world charm is kept strong with a great production backing it up. Please treat your kids to this gem while keeping their innocence alive. Even with some depicted darkness, this will only be empowering to their minds as it wraps up really well.Visit the Blog:- quickiereviewsmovies.blogspot.com

Dicken's Christmas Carol is no doubt a classic. The original film British production is too. That's the one you need and not the later day versions and re-imaginations. Now though there is a worthy alternate version in the guise of the story behind Charles Dicken's creation of the book. This is an interesting angle and and we see how Dicken's himself was fighting his own inner Scrooge leanings compounded by his suddenly run of poor book sales. This is worthy because it has the very human elements running through it that make A Christmas Carol so wonderful.Dan Stevens as Dickens creates a memorable character with lots of emotional as well as financial strain from which to play off of. He brings a nervous tension of things falling apart while he pedals hard to keep it all together. Keeping it together rides on his reversal of recent writing fortune so the stakes are quite high as he's used up his publisher's will to coddle him. He's on his own and it propels his madness into quite a stir. Christopher Plummer is a natural for Scrooge and he's excellent without breaking a sweat which he wisely does as he never overplays the role. Maybe one of the most endearing characters is quite unexpected, it's Dicken's father John played with aplomb by the wonderful Jonathan Pryce. Surrounding these central characters with a great supporting cast in a spot-on period London filmed with grand cinematography is extremely romantic and engaging. Seeing Dicken's toil to bring the story to birth becomes another telling of the story itself. Simply wonderful!