This "retelling" of A Christmas Carol was well done. It was nice being able to just follow Dickens's story along as he was creating it, and the interspersion of London came at welcome intervals. There was a good balance of up and down moments, and of serious and comical story threads. The music played to this wonderfully well--"amusing" music lest we take ourselves too serious for too long, and tugs of more serious tones lest the movie get too shallow or too silly--tugs assisted by art direction, of course.
I enjoyed seeing Mrs. Dickens' listening in. Make-up/costuming with Dickens's red, sleep-lost eyes was noticed and appreciated. The bright red cover of the finished book at the end. Just the right length of movie, and suitable end credit music to help the audience reluctantly leave the world of Dickens to return home. The two screens of historical note material was probably the best way to have done that--although, the movie did end with the line of eager customers at the store--a cozily lit store surrounded by snow and closed businesses--and a reading of the newspaper review in the Christmas-y parlor.
Well done. Merry Christmas!
