Film Review: Spirited (AppleTV)

 

Sexuality/Nudity Mature
Violence Acceptable
Vulgarity Acceptable

Anti-Catholic Philosophy Acceptable

There have dozens of variations on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  Some are more successful than others.  In recent decades, the only ones that have made a lasting impact are Scrooged and A Muppets Christmas Carol.  

But Spirited is looking to change that.

What is so strange about this movie is that it unintentionally a great metaphor for spiritual ministry.

The movie begins on Christmas.  The Ghost of Christmas Past (Sunita Mani), Present (Will Ferrell), and Future (voice of Tracy Morgan) have just completed another successful night of saving a miserable and miserly soul.  But in the aftermath, Present is pensive.  He is offered “retirement” from his job, but he still feels like he wants to make a difference.  As the group scouts their next potential soul to save, the come across Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), a consultant who is so openly amoral that his audacity is matched only by his deviousness.  Present thinks that if Clint’s soul is changed, then this could have a major impact on the world.  To make matters more complicated, while doing their research on Clint, Present starts to fall for his assistant Kimberly (Octavia Spencer).  When the Christmas haunting begins, nothing goes as planned as Clint refuses to play along with any of the deep emotional catharsis that the ghosts have planned, much to Present’s chagrin.  As the movie progresses, Clint pushes Present even more so that you begin to wonder who is the one who will end up changed by the end: Present or Clint.

And by the way, the whole thing is a musical.

My major critique of the film would regard some of the content.  With Reynolds and Ferrell, we have two comedians who often work very blue material.  As a result, there is a lot of cheeky content that isn’t exactly R-Rated, but skirts a line.  I have no problem with mature content, but I find it very limiting in a movie like this, which should have a much broader appeal.  I wouldn’t feel comfortable showing this movie to anyone younger than 13.  The Ghost of Christmas Past is particularly off-putting as she lusts after Clint throughout.  

Now some people may be uncomfortable by the deep strain of cynicism that runs throughout the film, but I think that this is essential to making the movie work.  Clint doggedly refuses to look into his own soul and he equivocates all of his actions, constantly turning the tables back to Present.  Clint makes Present even question the concept of redemption and even tempts him into giving in to his baser urges.  This is frustrating, but also creates the tension with actual stakes.  As the movie goes on, you really do not know whether or not it will have a happy ending.  I found myself turned in knots at the possibility of leaving the theater completely deflated, but as a result I was totally invested in the events as they were unfolding.

Ferrell is great as Present.  He has an optimism that is tinged with fear.  He hopes, but he acts the way that he thinks he’s expected instead of the way he feels.  His chemistry with Spencer and Reynolds hold the movie together.  But it is Reynolds who steals the show.  It could be argued that he is simply doing his standard “Ryan Reynolds” character: charming and naughty at the same time.  And to that extent it is true.  But his charisma draws you in when you should be utterly repulsed.  He is seductive, not in a sexual way, but in making his horrible world-view sound practical and palatable.  The writing helps out a great deal here by having his Clint push you to question your own concepts of good and bad.  A line that sticks with me is when he questions the possibility of real redemption by saying, “Anyone can be good for three and a half weeks.”

It also helps that this movie goes all in as a musical.  It is packed with show-stopping numbers with amazing choreography and enjoyable music.  Ferrell and Reynolds are able to sing their way through the numbers, but Spencer is the one whose voice really stays with you.  The movie has some really nice and moving ballads as well as toe-tapping crowd-pleasers.  The style reminds me of The Greatest Showman but it never quite matches that level.

As I mentioned earlier, this movie is unintentionally a metaphor about spiritual ministry.  I say unintentionally, because the movie tries desperately to avoid anything that is traditionally Christian.  The sexual morality is very loose and there are lines about turning the whole operation Present a non-denominational affair.

But whether they meant to or not, this movie strikes a chord for anyone who has participated in the work of saving souls.  Most of us a zealous about our ministry because we have experienced something deeply personal, cathartic, and life-changing.  We want other people to have that experience too.  We work hard to create these deeply moving, often emotional moments for them to experience, either on retreat or in the classroom or in any other number of situations.

And when they don’t react the way we want… we get frustrated.  Present is constantly getting stressed because Clint refuses to open his heart in the way that Present plans.  Whether I want to or not, I cannot help but relate.  We ministers work hard on these experiences and it feels so upsetting when they fail to make an impact.  But herein is an important lesson: ministry is not a one-size-fits-all situation.  What works for one person may not work for another.  Clint’s resistance forces Present to acknowledge this reality.

The only time real progress seems to be made is when Present opens himself up and makes himself vulnerable to Clint.  About halfway through the movie, Present reveals a secret to Clint that really changes things for both of them.  Too often ministers set themselves up above the ones to whom they are ministering: they are the enlightened ones who offer redemption.  But Clint forces Present to understand that even though he is Christmas ghost, he is not a saint.  He is a man with normal wants and normal flaws.  By standing above Clint, they never connect.  But it is only in walking with Clint and really befriending him that any hope can be found.

Ministry is walking with people, being a part of their lives.  Yes, you hope to make their lives better, but you have to let them make your life better too.  When Present sees the value that Clint has for his life, new worlds open up.

The movie also makes clear that redemption is not a one-time event.  I cannot tell you how many times I have put on retreats with people who have deeply emotional experiences.  Their lives change… for a few weeks.  And the experiences of everyday life pulls them back to their old ways like gravity.  Redemption isn’t a single moment of conversion, but making the choice every day to be better.  The movie could be implying that we only have to be a little bit better than we were before and that is enough.  If that is the case, I would reject that theme.  We are called to be saints.  If the movie is implying that saintliness involves the slow walk up the road to righteousness, then I am completely on board.

I may be reading more into Spirited than I should.  But because of that resonance with my life, it struck a chord in me.  And it might just do the same for you.