"The Personal History of David Copperfield" Early Review

Author Charles Dickens died in 1870 but he's still making money. Not only has he written over a dozen popular novels and novellas but many of them have been adapted to film, some several times. Just three years ago, an excellent big screen adaptation of his most well-known work, A Christmas Carol, hit theaters. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we'll have to settle for a cinematic version of one of his books not as familiar to audiences releasing to VOD platforms.

Instead of a holiday ghost story, The Personal History of David Copperfield is the fictional life-story of its Victorian-era title character. After spending the first few years of his life in childhood bliss, the young and imaginative David's widowed mother marries the cold-hearted but wealthy Mr. Murdstone, who brings his equally cruel sister into the family. David's abusive new stepfather forces him into child labor at his factory. Eventually, David's mother dies and he's informed -- after the funeral -- in a particularly callous way. This last indignity prompts David to run away to the estate of his weird aunt, Betsey Trotwood, who has an equally eccentric tenant. 

David Copperfield follows the British tradition of color-blind casting, which makes for a much more ethnically diverse array of characters than originally intended by the Dickens. And unless you're a stickler for historic accuracy, the less homogenized look is sure to please. The story is executed fairly faithfully, which makes the story itself -- not the adaptation -- the only real problem. The movie actually could've benefited from a less steadfast narrative. Everything starts off excellently but heads straight off a cliff by the end.

Copperfield arrives on VOD on August 28.