Spirited – A Big Swing That Works Out Well

In the essence of saving potential readers from a long introductory paragraph listing all of the reasons why Spirited should not work, I will simply begin with this –

I really enjoyed Spirited.

On paper, the film has many red flags; Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds starring in a Christmas musical, both of whom are not known for their singing and dancing talents, released on a short run in theaters and then on streaming in the middle of November, in yet another sendup of A Christmas Carol, albeit with a modern spin which is told from the ghost’s perspective. All of these factors combined are enough to give anyone pause. Nevertheless, the fact that the film took a big swing at a concept that could potentially work is still reason for excitement. Despite all of the many reasons that could be stacked against it being entertaining, all it needed was to work in several areas just enough in order to win its audience over.

That is not to say that Spirited is perfect. It is far from it. But its deficiencies are not enough where the overall product cannot overcome its issues. One of these major contributions is its bloated runtime which seemed to deem every musical number a necessity to the narrative (with the exception of one that still finds its way into the closing credits) despite several not being strong in quality. Coming in at just over two hours, Spirited has many opportunities to land its message and finish on a high note (pun intended), but is forced to continue well past an acceptable timeframe overstaying its welcome by forty minutes and diluting a very good theme and finale. Another issue that arises throughout the film was its desperate need for stronger and more decisive pacing. The opening act takes a long time to develop which feels unnecessary given the familiar premise and because of this decision the potency of a major twist that occurs later in the film, is diminished. It seemed apparent that audiences watching what many will believe to be the end of the film are merely led through several minutes more of plot development with an accompanying musical number, repeating the cycle several more times before the actual closing musical number.

But this is where the shortcomings end because while the front portion of this review might state otherwise, Spirited was a great time. Ferrell was remarkable and charming as the Ghost of Christmas Present (aka Present) and while there was the potential for similar concerns regarding Reynolds (as Clint Briggs), both rose to the challenge pairing well with one another through great chemistry while also offering something entertaining by themselves as both of their stories were equally explored. On its narrative surface, the film appeared to only offer a fresh coat of paint on a very tried and true story reheated every year around this time with the only change being that it was observed from a different perspective than that of the person in need of changing. But instead, it was clever and subtle in its delivery as it lulls the viewer into thinking it has everything figured out with its characters only to change the narrative focus completely in its midpoint, thus taking the film in an entirely different and new direction.

Meanwhile, a clear additional bonus is the obvious boost that Apple can provide to a production budget that exceeds its content affording a film such as Spirited a glossy veneer and ample financial support where its production warrants being released in theaters. The confidence of that decision is quickly realized through gorgeous set pieces, dance numbers, visual FX, and more. This only helps solidify the success of its entertainment value while also separating it from similar competition marched out on competing streaming platforms that simply do not look as good or are not given the same attention to detail.

In the end, Spirited is a wonderful time that entertains and subverts expectations to the extent that the surprises along the way rationalize some of its shortfalls. The humor, music, plot, actors, and production design all work in concert, producing a charming watch that isn’t perfect but still delivers a unique point-of-view. Whether or not the film is enjoyed universally will be up for debate, however, there is something refreshingly beautiful about a film/musical that takes such a giant swing on a concept rather than choosing a safer path creatively. For that, it excels in spades.

still courtesy of Apple

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Critics w/o Credentials

Trying my best to get all thoughts about TV and Film out of my head and onto the interweb.