*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*
“We are in the business of change…”
Spirited premiered on Apple TV+ and is showing in select theaters as of November 18th 2022. The holiday musical film (inspired by A Christmas Carol) stars Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer. It runs for approximately two hours and seven minutes.
The Ghost of Christmas Present takes on the challenge of trying to redeem an “Unredeemable,” when he starts to contemplate his own past, present, and future in the process.
Here is the trailer:
Spirited is jam-packed with musical numbers and an all-star cast, but did we really need another version of A Christmas Carol? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds make a good team.
I was slightly worried that they would feel mismatched in this, but once the film got going, I really enjoyed watching them together on screen. There was some fun banter and some entertaining moments sprinkled into the mix.
Octavia Spencer stole the show; however, and played my favorite character by far. She continues to be such a compelling presence in every film she’s in and this one was no exception.
Attempts to put a spin on the traditional story.
This film was not afraid to admit its inspiration and while it didn’t come close to Scrooged or even Mickey’s Christmas Carol, it did put a unique twist on things to freshen up the story. I’m not sure it all worked, but the intention was there.
The Cons:
Way too many musical numbers…
Honestly, they were so distracting and oddly placed. With the exception of one musical number that I actually thoroughly enjoyed, the other ones felt forced and awkward. Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell are not natural singers, which is fine, but every single time I started to connect to the story, the magic was broken when we burst into another unnecessary song, which also made the runtime of this film go on for over two hours…
The tap-dancing was on point though!
So am I in or out?
I’m in about 75 percent…
Spirited has some entertaining moments and puts forth a valiant effort to do something different with A Christmas Carol, but the excessive musical numbers get in the way of real entertainment.
If you’re looking for a new holiday film to watch this year, I’d recommend Falling for Christmas or Violent Night instead.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Spirited in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
A VACATION TO DIE FOR…
When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.
Who will make it off the island alive?
I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!
Blood Rose Island is available here!
**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!
