We’ve seen the retelling of A Christmas Carol numerous times – and this latest iteration is a fun, but flawed, take.
Previously there’s been a version played out by Muppets, a computer-generated Jim Carrey – and then there’s my personal favourite with the Bill Murray-led Scrooged.
In this latest rehash of the Dickens tale – which has received a cinematic release as well as being an Apple TV+ exclusive – Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds tell the much-loved story in the form of a musical.
In this, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) selects a new dark soul to be reformed each Christmas Eve with a visit from the three spirits. On this occasion, he’s met his match by choosing the apparently unredeemable Clint Briggs (Reynolds), as for the first time the story is told from the perspective of the ghosts – which puts a fresh new spin on the classic.
As well as two A-list comedy giants, there’s a lot of talent behind the scenes too. Spirited is directed by Sean Anders (Daddy’s Home) with music by Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Olivier Award-winning songwriters/producers Benj Pasek & Justin Paul.
Given the involvement of the duo responsible for hits from both La La Land and The Greatest Showman, it’s very easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour as this carries a big Broadway-esque feel – with plenty of heart and soul thrown into the mix. And some laugh-out-loud moments for good measure too. Sounds like a recipe for a modern classic, right? Almost!
But sadly, Spirited doesn’t seem to quite know what demographic it’s aimed at. When swear words are cleverly avoided by convenient distractions, you’d think this was aimed towards children, but then at other times it feels more catered for a mature audience.
You can also tell certain scenes are improvised – which makes sense given the comedy talent involved, but while some actors have mastered the art of ‘improv’ – the ones that don’t come across awkward. One final minor criticism is the length, with the film simply too long for its target audience – and you start to feel it towards the end.
I realise I sound like Mr Scrooge himself here. Believe it or not, I was thoroughly entertained and overall recommend this musical-comedy experience.
It’s just frustrating when you see hints of what could have been many people's new festive favourite not quite fulfilling its true potential. Bah, Humbug!
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Mikey Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Apple Tv+ Exclusive, Out Now
Cast: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Patrick Page, Marlow Barkley, Loren G Woods, Tracy Morgan, Rose Byrne, Jimmy Fallon & Judi Dench
Running Time: 2 Hrs 7 Mins
Director: Sean Anders