Spirited

Spirited was released in select cinemas on November 11, 2022, before its streaming release on November 18, 2022, by Apple TV+. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its original songs and the performances and chemistry of Ferrell and Reynolds, but was criticized for its lack of improvement over previous adaptations of the novella.

Scoping for a new soul to redeem, the spirits encounter Clint Briggs, a renowned, controversial media consultant (“Bringin’ Back Christmas”). Despite Marley’s insistence that Briggs is “unredeemable”, Present believes that Clint’s redemption could have a “ripple” effect and make him a force for positive change in humanity. The Ghosts begin a year of research on Clint in preparation for the annual haunt. (“Ripple”).

As Christmas approaches, the Ghosts visit Clint’s headquarters, where they witness him encouraging his niece Wren, who is running for class president, to post an unflattering video of her opponent Joshua. Clint’s Executive Vice President, Kimberly, who uncovered the video at Clint’s instruction, is riddled with guilt and almost quits but ultimately decides against it (“The View from Here”). Matters are complicated when Kimberly is unexpectedly able to see Present, who finds himself attracted to her.

The haunt starts but quickly goes off the rails when Clint repeatedly interrupts Marley (“The Story of Your Life (Marley’s Haunt)”) and seduces the willing Past, forcing Present to step in early and take over. Clint is initially dismissive of Present and resists his past memories, particularly those of his ex-girlfriend Nora, who broke up with him over his selfishness, and of his older sister Carrie, who has since died of cancer. Realizing that Clint’s case will require an unconventional approach, Present takes them back into his own past and reveals that he was once Ebenezer Scrooge, the only other unredeemable soul to go through the program (“Good Afternoon”). Marley is furious and orders Present to “stick to the script”.

Present brings Clint to Nora, happily celebrating Christmas with her husband and children, but Clint deduces that it is Present himself who longs for a happy family life with Kimberly (“The Story of Your Life (Clint’s Pitch)”). Present dismisses this and instead shows him Joshua’s horrified reaction to Wren’s re-posting of his video. Present then finally gets Clint to relive his most painful memory: Carrie’s deathbed request that he raise Wren—and his refusal by instead passing her off to his younger brother Owen.

As Present prepares to leave Clint with Yet-To-Come, Clint forces him to confront his own fears about whether he was truly redeemed, as Scrooge had died only three weeks after encountering the Ghosts. Clint convinces him to take retirement and give life on Earth another try (“Unredeemable”). Soon after, the two wake up in Clint’s apartment, and Present, now mortal, asks Kimberly on a date (“The View from Here (Riverwalk)”). Clint is then intercepted by Yet-to-Come and shown glimpses of the future, including Joshua’s suicide after Wren’s video destroys his reputation.

Back on Earth, a shaken Clint races to stop Wren from posting the video. Just as he catches up to her, Kimberly stops him and reveals that she convinced Wren not to do it, then quits her job. Present is jubilant and waits for Clint to receive his congratulations from the spirit crew but is confused when they fail to arrive.

Clint explains that he only rectified one mistake and has not changed but tells Present that life is still worth trying and offers his friendship. A despondent Present, convinced he is unredeemable, jumps in front of an oncoming bus to return to his job in the afterlife. Clint shoves him out of the way, and just before the bus hits, time freezes, and the spirits arrive to congratulate Clint for achieving his redemption (“Do a Little Good”). However, when time resumes, the bus hits Clint, killing him. Carrie arrives to lead Clint into the afterlife, and while he is overjoyed to see his sister again, he is reluctant to leave Present behind. Instead, he makes a proposal to Marley.

Several years later, Clint has assumed the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present and is in a relationship with Past. He has expanded the program to include other holidays so the team can take on more perps every year and has brought Carrie onboard as part of the staff. Clint also regularly visits Present, now married to Kimberly and father of their two children, and the friends continue to work together redeeming souls. Wren has grown up and has been accepted into a masters program at Stanford (“That Christmas Morning Feelin’ (Curtain Call)”).

In a post-credit scene, the hotel manager from the Christmas tree convention is revealed to be the next “perp” chosen for redemption.