Everybody has certain movies they sit down to watch every December. I usually cover all of the classics: Elf, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and more. However, my all-time favorite Christmas movie often flies under most people’s radar. Directed by Sean Anders, the writer for We’re The Millers and Hot Tub Time Machine, the Apple TV+ movie from 2023, Spirited is in my not-so-humble opinion, the greatest Christmas movie of all time.
As soon as Halloween ends, I look for every excuse to suggest this movie to people, but it’s usually a tough sell. It’s one of the countless Christmas Carol remakes. It’s a Will Ferrell Christmas movie that isn’t Elf. Oh, and it’s a musical (probably the best one of all time, too).
There are quite literally hundreds of adaptations of A Christmas Carol, with hundreds more on the way (one with Johnny Depp literally got announced as I was writing this article). However, Spirited is a wildly different retelling of the story. The Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Will Ferrell, attempts to redeem the soul of manipulative media consultant Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) who is deemed “unredeemable” by the afterlife spirits. The story is told dually from the perspective of both characters, and constant flashbacks allow the viewer to piece together the internal conflicts that both characters have struggled with throughout their lives. Reynolds and Ferrell have amazing chemistry together, and Octavia Spencer and Patrick Page are both great in their supporting roles.
While the story is marketed as a lighthearted retelling of the Dickens tale, it does tackle serious themes very effectively, like redemption, sacrifice, and purpose, and takes a few very dark turns in the third act that make the dramatic elements of the story as compelling as the comedic ones, which are balanced perfectly, with heavy assistance from the musical numbers.
Some people may be reluctant to see Spirited since it is a musical, but every song in the movie has a purpose, and are all crucial to moving the plot forward. Plus, they’re bangers. The 12 original songs from the movie are written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for their work from The Greatest Showman and La La Land. Every single song is amazing, and I’ll admit, I listen to them year round. The entire cast is (surprisingly) full of great singers, with Will Ferrell singing much better than he did in Step Brothers.
If you’re looking for something new to watch this holiday season, give Spirited on AppleTV+ a try. It’s my favorite Christmas movie and my favorite musical, and if you disagree, then I’ll climb down your chimney late on Christmas Eve and eat all your cookies.
