The ending was not exactly in harmony with the book. Okay it was kinda far off, but it was a really great movie. Except for the ending it stuck really faithfully to the book, for a movie. My entire family loves it. Even my father who hates to rewatch movies he can remember having seen before, will sit and watch the whole thing when we play it in the VCR. I started reading Dickens because of this movie and now he's one of my favorites.
The actors are believable in the role, endearing. The movie draws you in from the start.

Things are slightly confusing, so let me write the facts about this film first. This `David Copperfield' is a Hallmark production made in 2000, directed by veteran Peter Medak (`Romeo Is Bleeding' and many others), and featuring Hugh Dancy as adult David. The film is shot in two parts, both 90 minutes long, so the entire film runs 180 minutes.

The cast includes Sally Field as Aunt Betsey Trotwood, Michael Richards as Mr. Wilkins Micawber, Eileen Atkins as Miss Jane Murdstone, Anthony Andrews as Mr. Edward Murdstone, Frank MacCusker as Uriah Heep, Edward Hardwicke as Mr. Wickfield, Emily Hamilton as Agnes Wickfield, Julie Cox as Dora Spenlow, and Paul Bettany as James Steerforth. Though you can see the name of Paul Bettany on the DVD cover, he is just one of the supporting actors.

The Hallmark version (which is shown in US only 8 months after the US release of BBC version with then unknown Daniel Radcliff) manages pretty well to keep the viewers interested in the story of young David Copperfield. The film has good visuals (shot in Ireland), and good performances from the actors, but is not exactly the best adaptation of the book. Even if you like this one, you may prefer the BBC version or the 1935 Hollywood version directed by George Cukor. Before I explain the reasons why I should say so, let me tell you about the details of this Peter Medak film.

For the production of the film, Hallmark must have prepared enough money to produce the convincing set and costume. All the actors did fine job. Hugh Dancy is very good as the young idealistic hero, and that's no easy work, considering that David as the narrator of the original book is not particularly an interesting character in Dickens's original. Also, Frank MacCusker gives a creepy (and impressive) portrait of oily and `humble' Uriah Heep, which most Dickensians would approve, and Paul Bettany is wonderful as dashing Steerforth. Unfortunately, Bettany appears only twice, and you are not going to see the famous `storm' sequences (probably because of the budget).

Wisely the production company didn't change the story very much. Well, actually that means they did, especially in the second part, and you may not like the changed fate of Aunt Betsey or the flash-forward/flashback techniques. At one point it is suggested that the book of `David Copperfield' is written for the purpose of his retaliation for what Murdstone did to him and his mother. The interpretation might be interesting to some, but is hardly acceptable to me.

For Mr. Murdstone, hard-hearted as he is, is no monster as the filmed version suggests. Hallmark version presents him as kind of the evil while Dickens in his book refuses to make him so. In this way, if the fans of the original book (or BBC version) hate this film, it is not because of the changed story or its hurried pace, but because of the interpretations of the characters we think we know better. Hugh Dancy's Copperfield does not contradict our shared image of the hero (and Bettany's Steerforth, neither), but some of the cast just fail to convince us, despite their good acting.

Anyone who has seen Maggie Smith as Betsey Trotwood in the BBC production would agree if I say Sally Field is not the best choice for the role. The latter is an American, which is already disadvantageous to play the old lady living in the 19th century Dover, but - I mean no disrespect, but - she lacks the peculiarly loopy (and delightful) touch in the mannerism that Maggie Smith and other British actors can effortlessly realize. Three times I heard Sally Field crying with shrill voice `Donkey!' but, sorry, I was not convinced. I cannot find the right word to describe my feelings, but to me it was too humorless, and her efforts are visible when trying to be comical.

And Mr. Wilkin Micawber, the eternal creation that Charles Dickens left for us. No one just can forget him, but that is because of his unique personality that defies simple definition. The Micawber here lacks the mystery of the original, and for the reasons I don't know, he more than once relies on the pratfalls to make us smile. That's a bad decision, and you know that when you see poor Micawber bumping into a door, touching a red-hot poker in the fireplace, or nearly getting burnt by candlelight. W.C. Fields, who did the same role 70 years ago, just didn't need these silly `gags' to be Micawber.

All in all this Hallmark version of `David Copperfield' is a decent production. But the same story is given a better treatment only 8 months before this one, and also 70 years ago.