On November 18, Apple TV+ already began to share the Christmas atmosphere thanks to the release of the “Spirit of Christmas” tape. The main roles in the project were performed by Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, so before watching, you could expect not only a festive mood, but also a high-quality comedy component. How the authors and main stars coped with it, as well as with dances and songs – we tell in the review.

“In the spirit of Christmas” / Spirited

Genre a Christmas comedy musical
Director Shawn Anders
In roles Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Octavia Spencer, Joe Tippett, Rose Byrne
Premiere Apple TV+
Graduation year 2022
Site IMDb

“In the Spirit of Christmas” is a modern film interpretation of “A Christmas Carol in Prose” by Charles Dickens, to which humor and musical numbers were added. Cinematographers Shawn Anders and John Morris, experienced in the comedy genre, were involved in the production and script. Behind their shoulders there are such unpretentious nonsense as “Hello, Dad, New Year!” with the same Ferrell, and hit comedies like “We are the Millers”. But the boys have no experience of working in musicals, and I must say, it immediately catches the eye.

After the three spirits of Christmas manage to re-educate some evil aunt who looks like Rose Byrne, they set out to find their next “victim”. The gaze of educators from the other world falls on the evil owner of a hotel business. But the Spirit of Real Christmas (Ferrell) turns his attention to cocky, brutal PR guy Clint Briggs (Reynolds).

The task is made more difficult by the fact that Briggs’ file bears the dreaded bold stamp that says “irredeemable.” Despite this, the perfume takes on the transformation of this unpleasant type. But they could not have imagined that their new job would turn out to be unexpected consequences for everyone involved.

From the very beginning, it becomes clear that the creators of the film are trying to reassure the viewer: it is better to relax as much as possible while watching. And there is no need to take local events too seriously. Yes, the film, like Dickens’s classic story, tries to teach and authentically sings of goodness in a Christmas way, and even in the literal sense. But its main goal is to amuse, please, and “Like Christmas” copes with this at a decent level.

Obviously, as a musical, Anders’ work is nothing special, if not weak. The main stars do not perform any exciting numbers, and the dances in the background do not look different from standard background dancing. In the same Polyakova, things are much brighter on stage than here.

But the good thing is that the songs do not replace the actual comedy, where Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds feel like fish out of water. We don’t have to wait for any humorous revelations, but the tape is capable of improving the mood and providing a festive atmosphere.

It is also clear that “Like Christmas” will not announce anything new. His morality is transparent and simple. However, the storyline of Ferrell’s character looks interesting. First, his spirit is directly related to the hero of Dickens’ work. And secondly, he also goes through his difficult path, just like his ward. So this plot is not only about the reincarnation of bad. This is a mutual process of both main characters of the story.

At the same time, the main action unfolds in our days, so modern ones are touched here. Talk of an aggressive PR campaign strategy (there’s an allusion to the US presidential election), the consequences of cancellation culture if it happens unreasonably, light-hearted mockery of corporate bureaucracies — that’s what appears in the narrative. This approach seems to be successful, because who will be interested in just another painstaking screen adaptation of the immortal Dickensian classic? At the same time, the film does not forget to talk about the eternal.

Reynolds and Ferrell look harmonious in the frame. The first plays a typical chatty cynic, the second takes the signature Ferrell stupidity, but without inflections, and that’s good. The actors also interact beautifully, and their duet quite convincingly delights the audience. Good vibes are worth their weight in gold these days, so allow yourself a little distraction and enjoy as much as the movie allows.

Pros:
a great duo on the screen, a good comedy component, a confident modern look at a story as old as the world, unobtrusive and appropriate sentimentality, good emotions, unexpected cameos

Cons:
musical numbers that fail to impress or remember, uninteresting secondary characters (especially the other spirits of Christmas)

Conclusion:
“In the Spirit of Christmas” turned out to be a mediocre musical, but a funny and interesting comedy with good actors. The project does not claim the status of a Christmas classic that should be watched every year on Christmas Eve. But this is good entertainment that leaves behind only pleasant impressions