(rated PG, 2 hrs.)
From the classic Charles Dickens novel and adapted to screen by Director Doug McGrath, comes the tale of the Nickleby family who become penniless upon their father’s death. Suddenly they find themselves in the throws of a destructive uncle (Christopher Plummer) and have a ‘Dickens’ of a time trying to do the right thing by God, the community and the sake of their dear father’s memory. Charles Hunnam (part Heath Ledger, part Brad Pitt look-alike) is tender yet regal in this whimsical and light-hearted tale. Anne Hathaway is pure Snow White as the love interest, while Jim Broadbent fresh out of “Iris” is incredible, as the nasty and disgusting pig Wackford Squeers who causes trouble for the Nickleby’s through a crippled boy, Smike (Jamie Bell). Dame Edna, Nathan Lane and Alan Cummings add color in their overly-performed circus roles. The movie is part kooky, part amusing and all entertaining, delivered in an intelligent way. It’s McGrath doing “Emma” again, on a much more delightful and playful scale.