Spirited

My favorite new Christmas movie in years, SPIRITED is a hilarious, moving musical with two comedic superstars at their holiday best.

You want laugh-out-loud, self aware comedy? How about perfectly choreographed, big musical numbers that deliver heart and laughs?

A talented cast delivers all that and more in this new holiday classic that we've just watched again for the fourth time in two years.

A self admitted, thinly veiled new take on Dickens "A Christmas Carol", Will Ferrell is the Ghost of Christmas Present. He's just wrapping up another conversion to the nice list with his boss Marley (Patrick Page), Christmas Past (the hilarious Sunita Mani) and the towering figure of Yet-To-Come (Tracy Morgan).

After the first great song "That Christmas Morning Feelin'" by Benji Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman), Present and team are off to find their next bad person target to rehabilitate.

They meet their nonredeemable match in Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds). A heartless consultant who will destroy anything or anyone for a buck & a win, Briggs is despicable. Of course, in the hands of Reynolds, in full Deadpool funny mode, Briggs is loaded with witty comebacks and smarmy intentions. Reynolds brings out the best in Ferrell, they're a fantastic duo.

Reynolds has admitted that he can't dance, but you'd never know it here. Thanks to a lot of prep by him and excellent editing and choreography, he arrives in style, belting and hoofing his way through "Bringing Back Christmas".

Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures, The Shape of Water) is terrific as Clint's executive assistant Kimberly. I had no idea that she could sing, but her "The View From Here" is touching and perfectly delivered, the first sign that the film can deftly weave in some serious moments as well.

Our favorite moments are two big numbers. "Good Afternoon" is a Victorian era England set "Good Afternoon", with Clint and Present spreading the most profane greeting you can offer back in the day, a simple "Good Afternoon..." It's perfectly staged, starting as a Ferrell/Reynolds duo that expands into a full blown number that pours through the alleys of London. There's also the funniest work ever from a huge English star that's completely acknowledged "Deadpool" style.

The other is Ferrell's eleven o'clock ballad "Unredeemable" that finds him singing on a blank set. Behind him, dancers in dark outfits and a flashlight in both hands provide some of the coolest lighting and choreography of the night. Ferrell delivers a powerful moment.

But don't worry, it's quickly back to big laughs.

Ferrell's encounter at a Christmas party with someone dressed as Buddy the Elf is flawless.

With a $200 million budget from Apple TV, the film looks great in 4K and sounds terrific in Dolby Atmos.

An annual favorite for the Christmas Season, SPIRITED will definitely have a new spot in my Top 10 Christmas films next year. Need laughs, some heart and some old fashioned musical numbers with a fun modern twist?

SPIRITED loads all the stockings with energy, gets better with every viewing and delivers enjoyable A+ Christmas fun.

If you don't like this movie.....Good Afternoon!