“The Personal History of David Copperfield” is a tribute to Charles Dickens and a nod in the title to its primary source material.

David Copperfield, not to be confused with David Seth Kotkin (born 1956), the American magician whose stage name is David Copperfield, is the title character of the eighth novel by British novelist Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870).

“The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account)” was published as a monthly serial, 1849 - 50, and a book, 1850.

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” is a mostly successful cinematic example of fan fiction, or fan fic, whereby a fan, or fans, write stories, articles, blogs or podcasts based on an existing work of fiction, utilizing characters, settings and plot points from the original work.

The movie, directed by Armando Iannucci (director, “The Death of Stalin,” 2017; TV’s “Veep,” 2012-15), is co-written by Iannucci and Simon Blackwell (Oscar nominee, adapted screenplay, with Iannucci, ”In the Loop,” 2010).

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” is a Valentine to Charles Dickens, all that is Dickensian and a charming, if awash in gorgeous backlit cinematography (Director of Photography Zac Nicholson, “All Is True,” 2018; “The Death of Stalin”), tribute to the Victorian era.

The movie begins straight-forward narrative style, starting with the childhood of David Copperfield and following him into his adult life. There are scenes where the adult David Copperfield (Dev Patel) eavesdrops on his younger self, visible to the movie-goer in the same scene, but not to the character or characters in the scene.

The solid supporting cast includes Morfydd Clark (Dora Spenlow), Peter Capaldi (Mr. Micawber), Daisy May Cooper (Peggotty), Darren Boyd (Mr. Murdstone), Tilda Swinton (Betsey Trotwood), Hugh Laurie (Mr. Dick), Ben Whishaw (Uriah Heep) and Benedict Wong (Mr. Wickfield).

The film uses intertitles, or title cards, with printed text on the screen, dividing the life of Copperfield into several chapters.

Patel (Oscar nominee, supporting actor, “Lion,” 2016; “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” 2011; “Slumdog Millionaire,” 2008), as Copperfield, narrates some scenes with voiceovers, which could have been employed more frequently and consistently to the benefit of the film.

The movie has the sanitized and chipper sense of the 1995 film version of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” novel, a BBC “Masterpiece Theatre” episode and a Merchant-Ivory film (“A Room with a View,” 1986; “Howard’s End,” 1993).

Whether it’s because of the serviceable screenplay by Iannucci and Blackwell, the rudimentary direction (with an instance of sped-up action in one scene a la a silent movie) by Iannucci or the puppy-dog-like, loveable Happy Jack performance by Patel, the results are less than compelling, and a bit too muted and aloof. The film needed to provide more depth, surprises and rollicking fun.

Director Iannucci’s “The Death of Stalin” took more chances, along the lines of the outrageous “Jojo Rabbit” (2019). “The Personal History of David Copperfield” should have be more up close and personal.

There have been 14 adaptations of Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield” on screen, including silent films, TV shows, TV series and movies. Perhaps the best-known of these is the 1935 theatrical motion picture release, “David Copperfield,” directed by George Cukor and famously starring W.C. Fields as Wilkins Micawber.

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” joins the Copperfield canon and should be enjoyed by devotees of Charles Dickens.

“The Personal History of David Copperfield,”

MPAA-rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children) for thematic material and brief violence; Genre: Comedy, Drama; Run Time: 1 hr., 59 min. Distributed by Searchlight Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

Scenes in “The Personal History of David Copperfield” included those filmed in The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, where Charles Dickens is reputed to have lodged and set part of his book, “The Pickwick Papers.”

Movie Box Office,

Sept. 11-13: “Tenet” continued at No. 1 two weeks in a row, $6.7 million, $29.5 million, 2,810 screens; two weeks. 2. “The New Mutants” stayed in place, $2 million, $15.2 million, 2,704 screens, three weeks. 3. “Unhinged” stayed in place, $1.5 million, $13.8 million, 2,365 screens, five weeks. 4. “The Broken Hearts Gallery,” $1.1 million, one week, number of screens not available, opening. 5. “Bill & Ted Face the Music” dropped one place, $260,000, $2.7 million, 807 screens, three weeks. 6. “Words on Bathroom Walls” dropped one place, $241,740, $1.9 million, number of screens not available, four weeks. 7. “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” moved down two places, $205,000, $3.9 million, 267 screens, five weeks. 8. “The Personal History Of David Copperfield,” $193,000, $1.4 million, 1,204 screens, three weeks. 9. “My Brothers’ Crossing,” $11,539, $40,703, 69 screens, two weeks. Note: There was not a movie listed for No. 10.

Movie Box Office statistics from Box Office Mojo.

Unreel,

Sept. 18:

“The Nest,”

MPAA rated R: Sean Durkin directs Jude Law, Carrie Coon, Anne Reid and Adeel Akhtar in the drama. An American entrepreneur and his family face life-changing events after they move into an English country manor.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes