Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell are comedy engines themselves. But the new movie, Spirited, will prove what an excellent comedy team they could be.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the most beloved Christmas stories ever told. The story of a man who looks at the difficult reflection of his past, present and future in order to save his soul may not sound like a story meant for the Christmas season. But it is actually representative of the vacation itself. Christmas has always been about giving people a chance no matter how lost they may seem, which makes the countless narratives of history seem timeless. As a result, even movies like Spirited have a place for a generation that may not be aware of Dickens's work.
Director: Sean Anders
Writers: Sean Anders, John Morris
Stars: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer
Spirited is a new take on the classic story starring Will Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ryan Reynolds as a businessman in desperate need of some Christmas spirit. While the film is primarily a comedy, it also packs a fair amount of musical energy which has made the film stand out among the many A Christmas Carol clones out there. But the real secret weapon of this film is the fact that it has brought together two giants of comedy for one film so unique.
A Christmas Carol is by no means a new story. But, after more than 100 years of publication and many retellings of the story, it has stood out because it reminds readers that no matter how gloomy or bad a person may be, they can still have a spark of good in them. With that spark, it's crucial that whoever sees it fights for it because all it takes is one person to change another's life.
Unfortunately, since the story is a classic, it is potentially more difficult for new generations to be interested in the story. That could be due to the classic diction or setting of the story, which may not connect with a more revved-up generation than the last. But as countless retellings have shown, the narrative stands the test of time because it can be reimagined in ways that connect with new faces. And in this case, the powerful actors of Ferrell and Reynolds may be the key to Spirited.
Reynolds and Ferrell have dedicated their careers to making others laugh, whether it's in comedies or just how they carry themselves. But even though their careers ran parallel, they represent two very different kinds of humor. For example, Reynolds is an actor who has found humor in acknowledging the weird or funny things that people always think of. He makes the humor of him so much more relatable than most and has even helped make him such a relatable iteration of Deadpool.
On the other hand, Ferrell has used his talent for comedy to make others laugh at his expense. With each movie, he's never been afraid to go the extra mile to stand out and make sure people realize he's doing something outrageous. He makes him a wild card in terms of comedy, as no one could expect what he would do next. However, with the two together, their unique brands of humor could play off each other thanks to the physical humor in the film's musical numbers. Spirited looks to be a fun take on a classic Christmas story and will likely show audiences that even the most unlikely couples can do something special.
To see this new comedy duo, Spirited opens in theaters on November 11 before hitting Apple TV+ worldwide on November 18.