Spirited 2022, starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, is a festive and fun twist on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, writes DAVID SAUNDERSON
TITLE: Spirited
RELEASED: 2022
DIRECTOR: Sean Anders
CAST: Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Octavia Spencer
Review of Spirited 2022
What if A Christmas Carol was reimagined as a corporate machine?
Spirited, 2022, takes the classic Dickensian tale and spins it into a modern, star-studded musical packed with charm, belly laughs, and more than a few surprises.
Spirited turns the well-trodden ground of A Christmas Carol on its head.
Here, it’s not just about one miser’s redemption but a whole industry of ghostly spirits who work year-round to redeem the irredeemable.
Will Ferrell plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, a grizzled veteran who decides it’s time to take on his most difficult case yet.
Ryan Reynolds is Clint Briggs, a cutthroat marketing executive who might just be “unredeemable”. It’s a chaotic clash of cynicism and Christmas cheer, with plenty of musical numbers.
Visually, Spirited 2022 is a treat. Apple spared no expense, and it shows in the lavish sets, top-tier special effects, and bustling choreography.
The ghostly world has a slick, corporate feel – think TV’s The Good Place meets Scrooged 1988.
The humour is sharp and self-aware, poking fun at the idea of turning Christmas spirit into a full-blown operation. Beneath the satire, however, lies warmth, especially when it comes to the characters.
Reynolds and Ferrell are brilliant together. Reynolds plays the fast-talking businessman we’ve come to love (or loathe), while Ferrell’s goofy charm is on full display. Their odd-couple chemistry forms the heart of the film.
Octavia Spencer provides a more grounded, emotional balance to the frenetic energy around her.
Director Sean Anders keeps the pace lively, balancing comedy, sentiment and musical spectacle.
The songs are surprisingly catchy and hold their own against past Christmas musicals. Some numbers might even rival the iconic tunes of Scrooge 1970. These bold, fun songs help keep the energy high, even when the plot veers towards the predictable.
Yes, this film feels like a modern cousin to Scrooged 1988, though with a lighter touch.
While Spirited 2022 plays with corporate cynicism, it doesn’t delve into the darker elements that Scrooged explored. This is more about the magic of redemption, which suits the tone of this breezy musical perfectly.
The film doesn’t shy away from being meta either. There’s an amusing self-awareness to how it revisits A Christmas Carol yet again.
The filmmakers know we’re nearing the point where it seems like there’s nothing new to say. However, Spirited 2022 finds a fresh angle by embracing humour and spectacle.
It’s an ambitious blend of comedy, song, and Dickensian philosophy, but it mostly pulls it all together.
If there’s a downside, it’s that Spirited can feel overstuffed.
Between the relentless jokes, energetic dance numbers, and emotional beats, there’s a lot to take in.
While the film’s heart is in the right place, some viewers might feel it tries to juggle too many elements at once.
Still, it’s hard to mind when you’re having this much fun with big nice shiny Christmas film with ghosts!
For fans of Reynolds and Ferrell, this is a no-brainer.
Their dynamic drives the film, and their characters are exactly what you’d expect from two comedy heavyweights.
The humour is quick, the songs are catchy, and the overall vibe is festive without being too saccharine. Whether you’re a fan of Christmas musicals or just looking for a laugh, Spirited 2022 has plenty to offer.
In a world filled with adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Spirited manages to stand out.
Have you seen Spirited 2022? What did you think of this modern take on A Christmas Carol? Let us know in the comments!
