Why ruin a wonderful story with trashy casting and dreadful direction. Mr Micawber is a "character" not someone pretending to be an actor trying to be funny. When I saw Eileen Atkins name in the titles I thought she would be playing Betsy Trotwood. Oh dear! I wonder if any of the production team have read the book or even seen the original 1935 version of the film or indeed any of the later versions. Freddie Jones as Barkis was excellent and I also enjoyed Emily Hamilton's performance as Agnes Wickfield. Why the introduction of the Murdstones throughout the film ? Was it put in so that Mr. Murdstone got his "come-uppance" ? He certainly deserved a far more drastic one than he got which was nothing more than a weak ticking off. Overturning a table laden with cakes did not lend the scene any extra gravitas. Don't waste your time on this film unless, like me, you want to be very disappointed.
Review of David Copperfield
