The Reel Review
Ryan Reynolds makes his musical debut alongside Will Ferrell in this modernized, musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on AppleTV+. The premise – the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) is questioning his career while trying to reform this year’s Scrooge (Reynolds).
Imagine Reynolds shoveling a blander version of his now very repetitive Deadpool snark as Clint, a loathsome social media influence peddler, with Ferrell channeling a way less endearing version of his character from 2003’s Elf. Add some forgettable, cheesy musical production numbers pulled straight from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and that is pretty much what you have with Spirited. Not even Octavia Spencer or a brief appearance from Rose Byrne can save this boring mess.
The showtunes from composer Dominic Lewis (Bullet Train, The King’s Man) are all forgettable, not helped by having non-singers Reynolds, Ferrell and Spencer belt them out. Co-writer/director Sean Anders (Instant Family, Daddy’s Home) seems unsure of what kind of musical he wanted to make. Fortunately for him we won’t remember either.
REEL FACTS
• Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds each were paid $20 million for their work in Spirited.
• Spirited is director Sean Anders’ first film since 2018 to not star Mark Wahlberg. His sister Andrea (who plays Ted’s ex-wife in Ted Lasso) appears as Carrie, Clint’s sister.
• During the Christmas Party scene at one hour and 30 minutes, Will Ferrell is helped to his feet by a character dressed as Buddy the Elf, which Ferrell portrayed in the 2003’s Elf.
Video & Photo
Could not believe how bad this was. The choreographer should have been fired when she filled ever number with hundreds of mugging dancers completely stealing focus from the actors. She should never work again. The director had no sense of anything. The credits were maddening with the mass hysteria going on behind them. The final moment with the hotel manager made no sense. And on television the picture is the size of a stamp. I grew to really hate this film.