Spirited

This is an article ‘Spirited’ by Marc Primo

Release date: 11 November 2022

Director: Sean Anders

Language: English

Production companies: Apple Original Films, Gloria Sanchez Productions, Maximum Effort, Mosaic, Two Grown Men

Producers: Sean Anders, John Morris, David Koplan, George Dewey, Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum

SPOILER ALERT– Some bold souls decided to make a musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, even though The Muppet Christmas Carol is already a beloved holiday classic for many. But this new version, entitled Spirited, is a little different. Instead of Michael Caine and the Muppets, we've got Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds bringing all their cohesive funny bits packed with both unexpected and predictable twists.

Instead of a straight adaptation of the Dickens classic, Spirited is uncharacteristically told from the perspective of the Christmas ghosts, which might have turned out like a wayward joke that went over the audiences' heads.

Twists to a timeless tale

In the film, the ghosts are part of a big out-of-this-world organization that chooses a rotten soul to reform for good every year. This year, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) is convinced that a heartless PR executive Clint Briggs (Reynolds), is the perfect candidate. Though Briggs has been labeled "unredeemable" by the spirit organization, Present believes he can save the selfish playboy's soul. But what he didn't expect is how his target has mastered the ability to spin the tables on him (or anyone for that matter), forcing Present to confront his own past, Present, and future. Oh, and all of this while everyone sang a few catchy tunes from time to time.

At first, the organization believes they have found the ideal candidate in a rude Vancouver hotel manager who was mean to janitors, but Present spots Briggs at a hotel event and realizes he is the true target. Briggs is a manipulative social media expert who is also featured in a musical number about how to profit off the "war on Christmas." He is a business person who does not consider morality as long as his client succeeds. And even if the client is his niece, Wren (Marlow Barkley), whom he persuades to conduct a social media attack on her school president competitor. Clint's assistant Kimberly (Octavia Spencer) appears worn out by her boss's ethical shortcomings, but Briggs does not see himself as a negative influence. He simply believes that being not very nice is the best approach.

As the holiday season approaches, Apple TV's Christmas feature offers hopes to become a new holiday classic. Aside from the two famous actors, the film is a well-intentioned but somewhat awkward take on the classic story. Despite its flaws, including overstuffing, clutteredness, excessive length, and technical issues like sketchy editing and production design, Spirited generates goodwill and is reminiscent of a community theater production of an original musical. While it is rough around the edges, it is still likable.

And yes, Spirited does offer a clever twist on a well-known tale, including numerous meta jokes that revolve around the beloved Christmas story. However, the musical aspect of the film is not entirely successful, with the songs often being interrupted or forgotten altogether. This flaw makes the film self-conscious about its decision to include musical numbers, with one character expressing dismay by suddenly bursting into song.

Despite this, there are still many funny punchlines out of Ferrell and Reynolds. Both of them clearly display their undeniable onscreen chemistry, with their off-screen friendship surely having a hand in it.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

To create a successful musical onscreen, it is essential to commit fully to the genre. The Muppet Christmas Carol demonstrates that a musical adaptation of a Dickens story can be successful. However, Spirited needed help with its musical numbers, which feel forced rather than organically integrated into the account. While the movie does come alive during the larger musical numbers, which are composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of La La Land and The Greatest Showman fame, songs such as "Good Afternoon" and "That Christmas Morning Feelin'" are enjoyable.

Aside from the musical numbers, the quality of Spirited seems a bit inconsistent. While the story includes some surprising plot twists and the ghostly world is creatively designed, the jokes are uneven and rely heavily on Reynolds' sarcastic wit. Ferrell and Reynolds are likable and charming as the lead characters, even if their singing abilities are not particularly noteworthy.

However, the script is overcrowded and includes a poorly developed romantic subplot between Present and Kimberly (Octavia Spencer), making the film feel unnecessarily long at 127 minutes.

Overstuffed Christmas stockings

The film struggles to find a consistent tone and message throughout its entire screen time. While it appears to want to add more cynical twists to the idea of overnight transformation, it ultimately reinforces this idea as if force-feeding an audience that's already full of all the Christmas magic.

Additionally, the Christmas Future segment includes a tasteless twist that might have been better off abandoned during the planning stages. While the film isn’t bad, it falls short of being a delightful holiday treat, despite some shining moments, particularly in the songs.

Sean Anders, known for his work on Daddy's Home, wrote and directed this imaginative take on the classic story. The film also imagines a spiritual industry dedicated to redeeming one selfish person and touches on the idea that this effort is a slight drop in the bucket in an era of social media attacks that affect thousands.

Spirited is as energetic as it feels. It's a huge stage musical in both form and function. Choruses of backup singers and dancers accompany the musical numbers, and the sets and production design often resemble those of a stage production rather than realistic physical spaces. Additionally, the writing has a Broadway-style tendency to repeat specific themes, particularly in the final acts of the film, which contribute to its runtime.

Despite its overachieving nature, it is difficult to dismiss Spirited's efforts. Reynolds, Ferrell, and Spencer are genuinely energetic, and it shows they had a good time making the film. Everyone from the cast to the production staff clearly put their heads together to make things fun and colorful. The overall energy of the film is undoubtedly enjoyable; come to think of it, feel-good Christmas flicks like this need not be perfect. Somehow, all the roughness around the film's edges adds to its charm and makes it a suitable choice for a family movie night over the winter break. In this sense, the film succeeds.

However, come next year, instead of re-watching Spirited, it may be more enjoyable to stream TheMuppet Christmas Carol instead, and every year thereafter – just as most of us have been used to doing every Christmas.