THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD"
(2020) (Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton) (PG)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A boy grows up into a young man while facing various trials and tribulations in 19th century England.

PLOT:

It's the 1800s and David Copperfield (JAIRAJ VARSANI) is a boy growing up in Suffolk, England with his widowed mother, Clara (MORFYDD CLARK), and their housekeeper, Peggotty (DAISY MAY COOPER). As Clara begins to see businessman Edward Murdstone (DARREN BOYD), David is sent off to the coast to live with the housekeeper's brother, Daniel (PAUL WHITEHOUSE), and the kids he's adopted, Ham (ANTHONY WELSH) and Emily (AIMEE KELLY), and has a grand time there.

When David returns home, he learns that his mother has married Murdstone whose equally cold sister, Jane (GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE), has moved in and taken over with him. When his new father-in-law believes the boy to be insolent, he sends him off to a sweatshop bottling factory where David otherwise lives with Wilkins Micawber (PETER CAPALDI) -- a charismatic fellow who owes a lot of different people money -- and his family, and grows up into a young man (DEV PATEL) there.

When Edward and Jane coldly inform David that his mother has died and the funeral has already occurred, the boy runs off for Dover to find his only living relative, the eccentric Betsey Trotwood (TILDA SWINTON) who lives with her even more eccentric cousin, Mr. Dick (HUGH LAURIE), who takes a platonic liking to David. With Mr. Wickfield (BENEDICT WONG) handling Betsey's finances, David ends up meeting his daughter, Agnes (ROSALIND ELEAZAR), who takes an instant liking to David even if he only views her as akin to a sister.

Soon, David is sent off to school where he meets head classmate James Steerforth (ANEURIN BARNARD), and the two quickly bond, including in making fun of young worker Uriah Heep (BEN WHISHAW) who nonetheless tries to make friends with David.

Once out in the real world, David lands a job as a proctor and ends up falling for his boss' daughter, Dora Spenlow (MORFYDD CLARK), much to the chagrin of Agnes. As David enjoys finally having made it in a tough world, many of the various characters from his past end up returning and ultimately shape his future.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: They might if they're fans of anyone in the large cast or perhaps even the classic book on which the film is based.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For thematic material and brief violence.

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