When it comes to Christmas, there have been tales to define the holiday season, like Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and A Christmas Story. However if there is one story that is unanimous with the season, and has become a major part in pop culture, is none other than the tale from Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol. The story of Ebeneezer Scrooge is timeless as it is constantly being adapted in new ways, whether it is authentic interpretation or tales that bring a new spin on the novel. The latest adaptation is definitely the latter as it is not only a unique take on Charles Dickens’s story but is also a musical. This adaptation is the new Holiday film simply called Spirited.

Directed by Sean Anders, Spirited tells the story how the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) sets out to haunt media tycoon Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) in order to prove that an unredeemable soul can be a force for good. The new movie sees Sean Anders reunite with screenwriter John Morris who has collaborated with Anders on films like We’re the Millers and Daddy’s Home. After the project was announced in 2019, it was confirmed that the movie would be an original film for Apple’s streaming service: Apple TV. While the movie is exclusive to Apple TV, it did receive a limited theatrical release which gave me the opportunity to see the new Holiday film. Along with being a fan of A Christmas Carol, I also enjoy a good musical so when an adaptation like Spirited comes around it is a must see for me. Yet with so many versions of A Christmas Carol, how does a movie like Spirited stand out? The answer is a movie with style, charm, and overall festive experience.

When trying to create a new take on A Christmas Carol, it can be hard for adaptation to bring some new. In the case of Spirited, the movie’s concept has been done before but it is in its delivery where the innovation lies. The story was dynamic with its ideas as elements like the supernatural aspect was very creative, while themes such as redemption were handled in a captivating manner. Along its inventive premise, the plot featured an array of twists and while they may not have been groundbreaking they were still captivating to say the least. If there is one issue I had with the plot it was its meta nature. There were several where the plot would break the fourth wall, and while the direction itself was not bad it could however clash with other aspects and it made it difficult to comprehend when the movie was trying to stick with its continuity. Regardless, this plot was an enjoyable tale that not only lived up to ideas of A Chirstmas Carol, but also a fitting experience for any holiday film.

With such dynamic storytelling, it was not to see the cast be just as dynamic. Will Ferrell brings his usual energy as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and it was more than enough to give the specter the right amount of charm. Bringing just as much charisma as Ferrell was none other than Ryan Reynolds as Clint. While Clint was nothing new when it came to Christmas Meisers, he was still an engaging lead and this was thanks to the energetic performance that Reynolds is known for. Together Reynolds and Ferrell made for an impressive duo whose chemistry was truly something magical. The film also featured an array of memorable characters from Octavia Spencer as Clint’s assistant Kimberly to the both ghosts of Christmas Past (Sunita Mani) and Yet to Come (Tracy Morgan/Loren G.Woods). While it may not have been the biggest of ensembles this cast still did the trick as each character, from the principal cast to minor roles, brought something to this enigmatic adaptation.

There have been musical adaptations to A Christmas Carol before, but in the case of Spirited the movie sets a new standard to the musical side of the Dickens story. Working on the music was the team of Benj Pasak and Justin Paul whose work includes movies such as La La Land and The Greatest Showman, and the songwriters continue to impress with the new holiday film. The songs felt like something you would hear from Broadway but each song had its sense of style. Some highlights in the soundtrack included “Bringing Back Christmas”, “Good Afternoon” and “Unredeemable”, but in truth most of the songs could be considered a breakout number. Helping to bring these songs to life was the movie’s stylish cinematography and visuals which ended up being far better than I expected. Along with the movie’s stylish presentation was its witty sense of humor. Between its array of jokes and good sense of timing, the movie’s comedy was a delight and it worked well with the film’s more serious aspects.

Spirited may very well be the biggest surprise of the holiday season. With so many takes on A Christmas Carol it is hard to bring something new to the classic tale, but Spirited found a way with its wondrous storytelling, enjoyable cast and creative execution. As a musical, the movie is top notch as each song was memorable and brought the right energy to the film’s festive atmosphere. Spirited is a refreshing take on the Dickens tale and, in this Film Adventurer’s opinion, is much a new holiday classic as it is one of the best films of 2022.