Spirited is what happens when you let Saturday Night Live alumni remake a Victorian morality tale as a Broadway-style musical—and honestly, it works better than it should.

The role-reversal premise (ghost reforms himself while trying to reform Scrooge) is genuinely clever, and the musical numbers are catchy enough that you'll be annoyed when they're stuck in your head three days later. It's got heart without being saccharine, and the Christmas Carol themes of redemption and self-examination land with real weight despite the comedy wrapper.

That said, this is firmly in the 'family movie that parents will enjoy more than little kids' category. The humor skews older, the runtime is long, and younger viewers won't catch the meta-commentary on Christmas movie tropes. It's perfect for tweens and teens who are aging out of Elf but still want holiday feels, and for families who can handle Will Ferrell being Will Ferrell in a Christmas context.

The 6.9/10 TMDB rating suggests it's solidly enjoyable but not groundbreaking—and that feels about right. It won't become a new holiday classic, but it's a fun, modern entry that respects its source material while having fun with it.