SPIRITED
A lively, redemptive Christmas musical best suited to discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
The answer is yes—but not for the whole family. Spirited is a lively musical comedy with great production numbers, enjoyable music, dancing, and fun performances from Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. Its story emphasizes redemption, kindness, goodwill, family support, and the positive effect one person can have on others.
The cost is substantial. The film contains too much foul language, along with sexual references, alcohol use, an implied suicide, and a few worldly sentiments that dilute its Christian, redemptive values and metaphors. Its PG-13 rating matters here.
If you are a discerning adult who can engage those concerns, this is worth watching, especially with a good sound system. For children and young teens, choose something else. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY is the practical answer.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESEvery year, three spirits work together to reform one mean person at Christmas. This year, the Ghost of Christmas Present believes that Clint Briggs, an unscrupulous media consultant considered “unredeemable,” deserves that chance.
But when the spirits begin their work, Clint turns the tables on Christmas Present. The spirit must then reconsider his own past, present, and future, while Clint’s niece faces a decision that could endanger a classmate.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly entertaining film whose craft makes it especially enjoyable. The music, sound, and dancing create an energetic, toe-tapping spectacle that plays beautifully on a big screen with a good sound system.
Ferrell and Reynolds make a terrific combination, delivering fun and tuneful performances. Their “Good Afternoon” number recalls the large-scale production numbers of Oliver! and Scrooge. Other songs, including “Do a Little Good,” “Ripple,” and “That Christmas Morning Feelin’,” offer heartfelt pleas for kindness and goodwill.
The Worldview
Spirited presents a strong Christian, redemptive moral worldview in a Christmas setting. It values turning one’s life around, doing good, becoming kinder, supporting family, and causing positive ripples among other people. The story’s echoes of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reinforce its interest in redemption.
The film’s moral ideas are weakened by some non-Christian, worldly sentiments. References in one song to celebrating Christmas in old-fashioned ways, along with irreverent jokes about Christmas and society, reflect Romantic and politically correct attitudes that dilute the story’s Christian values, themes, and metaphors.
Still, the film’s central longing—that people can change and that goodness can spread outward—connects with Scripture’s call to visible good works: “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Christian, redemptive, moral worldview in a Christmas setting about turning one’s life around, doing good, being kinder, supporting family, and causing positive ripples in the world and among other human beings, but there are some references in a song to celebrating Christmas in old fashioned ways and other irreverent jokes that smack of Romantic, politically correct attitudes about Christmas and society
Foul Language
About 28 obscenities (including five or “s” words and the initials FU are said in a comical comparison to people in Victorian England angrily telling other people “Good afternoon!”; a character claims that’s like saying “FU” to someone) and 16 light profanities
Violence
Slapstick violence includes woman hit on head with a dodge ball being used for an ice hockey game in a snowy suburban street, character hit by a bus, two characters slap one another, man falls from a distance and hits the ground but gets up, a couple punches are thrown in a boisterous musical number, and man accidentally walks into a pillar, plus there’s an implied suicide in a Christmas Yet-to-Come scene, and family visits a dying sister
Sex
It’s implied that one female character went to bed with another character, there’s a few jokes about that, and adult character sings euphemistically briefly about looking forward to experiencing open-mouthed kisses for the first time
Nudity
Brief upper male nudity during a brawl that’s shown briefly
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use and children’s mother appears to be drunk in a scene from Christmas Past
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
One background character smokes a cigar, and another smokes a pipe, but no drugs or drug references;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Girl’s uncle gets her to show a photo of her rival student body president candidate in a bad light, the main Scrooge-like character has a misanthropic attitude of people and overtly enjoys spreading hate as a media/marketing consultant, and the Scrooge character has a mean mother.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents redemption as a real possibility. What does it mean to turn away from wrongdoing and begin doing good?
Ezekiel 18:21–23 · 2 Corinthians 5:17Several songs emphasize kindness and goodwill. How can one good action create a positive ripple in your family, school, or community?
Matthew 5:16 · Galatians 6:9–10The story is set around Christmas. How should the birth of Jesus shape the way Christians treat other people?
Luke 2:10–14 · Titus 2:11–14The film includes worldly attitudes alongside redemptive themes. How can you hold on to what is true while rejecting ideas that conflict with Scripture?
Romans 12:2 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21The Final Word
Spirited offers four-star musical entertainment and a genuinely redemptive message, but its foul language and other content make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For another family choice, see.
