Adaptations of Charles Dickens’s classic tale A Christmas Carol are a dime a dozen at this time of year. Most households likely have the same go-to adaptations that they dust off each Yuletide season – ours is the Muppets, of course – but should you be in the market for a fresh take, you are bound to find a new TV show, theatre production or film that is more than happy to oblige every year come December time.
One such new offering in 2022 comes courtesy of Apple Original Films and Daddy’s Home director Sean Anders in the form of Spirited. Complete with its star-power pairing of Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, this new musical twist on the Dickensian fable of redemption is vying for a place in the family favourite rolodex. And from all the trimmings on display, Apple and Anders have certainly not skimped on the prospect of becoming a holiday classic, but is there enough under the glitz and glamour to prove all that lasting?
Spirited introduces us to the inner workings of the ghosts that seek to show the Scrooges of the world the error of their ways. Within this administration, we meet the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) , a veteran of the benevolent haunting squad who is nearing retirement. Hesitant to give up the role, he sets himself the challenge of redeeming an ‘unredeemable’ during their next season, with the team soon setting their sights on the callous Clint Briggs (Reynolds), a social media spin doctor who makes a living out of destroying the competition – by any means necessary. But as the hauntings begin, Clint begins to turn the table and may well prove to be their biggest challenge yet.
The central idea at the heart of Spirited – envisioning the Carol story from the ghosts’ perspectives and putting a workplace comedy spin on their ghoulish business – is undoubtedly a refreshing take and does make you sit up and pay attention. It is an intriguing idea and there’s some good humour to be mined from it as the world is established. Sure, there are lots of holes in the logic – it certainly doesn’t want you to think too long about it – but for the most part it is a refreshing new set of decorations for this well worn tree.
Where the concept is less successful is in how it balances its narrative between its lead character – Ferrell’s Ghost of Christmas Present – and Clint. The film becomes more unwieldy as Clint turns the tables on Present and forces the disillusioned spirit to question his place in the redemption arc, with the narrative flow running along a little uneasily as it both hit the beats of A Christmas Carol and tries to add a modern – occasionally jarringly dark – twist.
When it comes to its stars, Ferrell and Reynolds aren’t doing anything particularly new here. Reynolds is once again playing a sarcastic douchebag who is always prepared with a quick-witted retort – it’s the kind of performance he can do in his sleep and feels frustratingly pedestrian. Ferrell fairs better with the sweeter, more interesting character, but is largely called upon to do the excited Buddy the Elf routine whenever the occasion calls for it. The cast member who fares the best is Octavia Spencer, who clearly enjoys the chance at playing the love interest in a big Hollywood musical.
Now the songs. Penned by duo Justin Paul and Benj Pasek – the songwriters behind the likes of The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen – the film is a full-blown musical complete with huge ensembles, complicated dance routines and earworm melodies. Some may be a little repetitive, but the musical sequences are often when the film is at its most infectious and enthusiastic, and the stars throw their all into them – even if Ferrell and Reynolds don’t possess the strongest vocals in town. You’ll likely come away with one or two tunes knocking around your head, be it the very funny ‘Good Afternoon’ or the end credits number ‘Ripple’, a song cut from the feature itself but installed back in the credits, I assume because the filmmakers realised it was too good not to include in someway.
Spirited more than fits the bill for providing a burst of festive frivolity in expensive wrapping paper. It is an over-decorated Christmas tree that is often at the risk of toppling over, yet ultimately manages to stay upright thanks to some catchy musical sequences and a ‘go for broke’ enthusiasm that is more than fitting this time of year. Whether it has the legs to become a regular Christmas family favourite, only time will tell. But when it comes to getting a dose of Dickens this Yule, you could do a hell of a lot worse.
‘Spirited’
Summary
Spirited more than fits the bill for providing a burst of festive frivolity in expensive wrapping paper.
