The Man Who Invented Christmas

100 Movies in 100 Days
Movie 23 Day 23
The Man Who Invented Christmas

Yes, I know it's March and I shouldn't be watching Christmas movies but Dan Stevens is in it! If we are being honest, his blue eyes suck me in every time. I really wanted to watch this around Christmas but I didn't get the chance. On a personal level, I adore A Christmas Carol. It's my favorite holiday story and I love The Muppet Christmas Carol version. I was intrigued by the story-line of The Man Who Invented Christmas, a film about Charles Dickens writing a Christmas Carol. It's like Behind The Music but with a Christmas Carol!

The man who invented Christmas is a story about Charles Dickens and his holiday classic A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens is played by Dan Stevens and he brings real heart and soul to this charming holiday film. The movie also stars Jonathan Pryce as Charles Dickens' father. We see how the ghosts of Charles' past come back during this holiday time. H uses inspiration from his childhood Christmas to create A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens method to creating and writing his story is by giving the characters life, in his own mind. Once he creates the character of Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Christopher Plummer, Scrooge appears to Charles. I love the idea that a writer has conversations with their characters. It is a wonderful plot devices to show the creative side to Charles.

We see how hard Charles Dickens fought for A Christmas Carol to be published. Charles has to convince his editors and publishers to print this story mere weeks before Christmas. Dan Stevens brings his usual charm and passion to the film. We see how badly he wants to write a holiday story, not only for himself but for his family and the common person. There's a great moment in the film when Charles is reading his first draft of A Christmas Carol to his maid. She's a simple girl but she loves a good a tall tale. She is the conscience behind the story and Charles starts to see life from a simpler perspective. It's delightful to see Charles becoming more childlike and embracing the innocence of Christmas Even though adulthood has made him a cynic.

The acting by Christopher Plummer is what you'd expect, wonderful and charismatic. He makes old crotchety Scrooge into someone you care about. He knows how to balance Scrooge, his bitterness and cold-hardheartedness and see the man under the surface. A man who's simply lonely and needs a mirror held up to his life.

Overall a Charming holiday film. I do think calling it The Man Who Invented Christmas is a bit of a bold claim, even for Charles Dickens. I was intrigued on how historically one story can affect an entire holiday season. Setting aside a bold claim that Charles Dickinson invented the holiday, I would say the film is still charming. If you enjoy finding out the history behind the tail you will enjoy this holiday film.