Spirited
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Spirited
Spirited is a 2022 American Christmas musical comedy film that offers a modern, satirical twist on Charles Dickens's classic 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol. Directed by Sean Anders and starring Will Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ryan Reynolds as the 'unredeemable' Clint Briggs, the movie follows the supernatural organization responsible for reforming human souls during the holidays. This adaptation tells the familiar tale from the perspective of the ghosts, exploring themes of redemption, second chances, and the impact of individual actions on the world. The film is a lively musical with elaborate song and dance numbers, blending comedic elements with more dramatic and mature thematic undertones. It targets an audience of older children, teenagers, and adults due to its PG-13 rating and inclusion of suggestive humor, strong language, and intense mature topics.
Things to Consider
Profanity
Spirited features frequent and varied profanity, including mild and scatological curse words, as well as multiple misuses of God's and Jesus' names.
The film includes several uses of the s-word (both completed and abbreviated), and numerous instances of 'a--', 'b--ch,' 'b--tard,' 'd--n,' 'h--,' 'd-ck,' 'p-ss,' 'crap,' and the British vulgarity 'bloody.' God's name is misused nearly 20 times, and Jesus' name is abused once. Obscene hand gestures are also depicted.
Witchcraft & Occult
The entire premise of 'Spirited' revolves around supernatural beings, specifically ghosts (Jacob Marley, Ghost of Christmas Present, Past, and Yet-to-Come) who operate an otherworldly organization. These ghosts actively intervene in human lives to orchestrate redemption, making occult elements central to the plot.
Scary & Intense Content
While largely a musical comedy, 'Spirited' contains several intense and potentially frightening elements, including the appearance of a 'terrifying' ghost and, more significantly, a plotline involving implied child suicide due to cyberbullying.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The film centrally features a protagonist, Clint Briggs, who embodies extreme cynicism and manipulativeness, promoting disrespectful and rebellious behavior, particularly in how he advises his niece. This leads to serious real-world consequences within the narrative.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Ages 13 and up. The movie is rated PG-13 due to language, suggestive material, and mature thematic elements, including implied suicide. While younger tweens (10-12) might handle some of the content, the frequent profanity, crude jokes, and serious themes like cyberbullying leading to implied child suicide make it more appropriate for teenagers and adults.
Good to Know
The film is a musical, featuring numerous song and dance numbers. The comedic styles of Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds contribute to a tone that often balances lightheartedness with the more mature themes being explored. Some critics note the film's length (127 minutes) and a feeling of being 'overstuffed' at times.
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