The Personal History of David Copperfield

"Delightful (...) it pleases without pandering, and has found an ideal title character in the form of the always winning Dev Patel" 

"[It] comes across as a bright and jaunty corrective to the dour and stuffy Dickens adaptations that have come before (...) An attempt to rescue the writer from the musty category of 'literature'." 

"Iannucci’s warm-hearted adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic has good intentions (...) But even then, the intermittent charm suffers from the choppiness of Iannucci’s approach, which veers from nuttiness to earnest restraint" 

"[It] is certainly amusing at times, but at others, it’s a touch too cutesy and kitschy (...) The film’s somber details are rushed in favor of twee whimsy that becomes grating." 

"The many, many liberties Scottish director Armando Iannucci takes with Charles Dickens’ story are what makes this film such an unexpected joy to watch (...) Every cast member is hilarious. Dickens will be LOL’ing in his grave (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)" 

"Dev Patel gives a career best performance (...) 'A treat for Dickens fans (...) [The movie] is so alive and immediate that it should also connect with an audience who would never dream of tackling a weighty 19th century tome" 

"Everything rattles and zings like a pinball machine, and it’s a bracing, entertaining, richly satisfying experience (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"