“The Personal History of David Copperfield” Oozes Character

After sating my urge to see Tenet in theaters, this week I switched gears and caught a more under-the-radar film, The Personal History of David Copperfield from writer/director Armando Iannucci.

My viewing experience was definitely one of a kind, as I thought it would be about the famed magician and illusionist that frequents Las Vegas. In case you also had that idea, Iannucci’s film is actually an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1850 Victorian-era novel (which inspired magician Copperfield’s stage name). Thinking of mainstream tastes here, I recognize this is nowhere near as appealing as a movie about magic. But stay with me!

The Personal History of David Copperfield is a carefully crafted masterclass on designing vibrant characters. The film follows actor Dev Patel’s version of David Copperfield as he recalls memories from his childhood to early adulthood. Between brief scenes of adult Copperfield painstakingly recording his memories, we watch him grow up under the care of a wide variety of people: His bubbly nanny Peggoty, his abusive stepfather Mr. Murdstone, the optimistic but crushed in debt Mr. Micawber, and his oddball Aunt Betsey and her forgetful tenant Mr. Dick, before going off to an academy where he befriends the arrogant James Steerforth.

Like Copperfield’s predispositions, the film owes its success to these unique individuals. Both the writing and the performances make them people we want to spend long bouts of time with. I must shout out Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie for their roles as Betsy and Mr. Dick respectively. These are probably the most unusual characters in the film and both actors play them with incredible empathy.

But it’s also Copperfield’s impressionable nature that shows how important these people are to him and to the thematic takeaways of the story. Throughout the film, Copperfield writes down lines of dialogue that each of these characters have said; simple expressions or exclamations that he believes embody every ounce of their character. He studies these people and grows great respect, or in some cases disdain, for them and learns how to apply his lessons to his own existence.

Copperfield’s journey is incredibly self-aware, and I found it refreshing to watch him grow as a human being throughout the runtime. His personality at any given moment reflects the people he is around. This film seems to understand growing up really well. We look at the people who raised us, whether it’s parents, mentors, adversaries, etc., and make up our own minds about how we will carry ourselves based on what we think of them.

The character work really makes this film for all ages, as there’s tons to learn about the human condition, the importance of family and relationships, and the benefit of writing memoirs. I can’t say with confidence that everyone will love this movie. This is a period drama with the settings and costumes to match. I tend to gravitate towards something like Tenet more often than something like this, as I think mainstream audiences may as well. All of this in a liberal 2-hour dosage may be a bit much.

Luckily, Iannucci keeps it interesting. I expected more farcical comedy from him after seeing his 2017 political satire The Death of Stalin, but he still packs in quite a bit. He also throws in some surrealism (a giant hand punching through a roof of a house to steal away Copperfield from his happy home) and even a modern element (a scene involving a projector, like a movie, but in the 1800s). Given how not serious The Death of Stalin was, I was impressed by the tonal balance he achieves with this. Iannucci keeps it lighthearted, switches to serious when it really requires it, and ends on a sentimental note. He sticks the landing, although he defied my expectations, which may have further diminished my experience. I was kind of looking forward to a ridiculous satire.

Overall, 3 out of 5 stars for The Personal History of David Copperfield. It probably deserves more, and I wanted to give it more, but character work and tonal balance are its two main strengths and I just wanted more. Perhaps that’s unfair, and perhaps it’s because of my backwards expectations walking into the theater, but this is where I land. Still a recommend. If you like period drama/comedies, go see it. It is the embodiment of joy.