Spirited

The cinematic narrative commences on a somber note, as the ethereal presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Come (Tracy Morgan) materializes before Karen Blansky (Rose Byrne), a woman whose vitriolic nature has earned her the ire of those around her. As she gazes upon the specter, a sense of foreboding settles over her, and with a sudden epiphany, Karen vows to reform her ways and ascend from the depths of her own grave. Meanwhile, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) whispers reassurances to the audience, hinting at the transformative journey that lies ahead.

The ghostly trio, comprising the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Sunita Mani), Present, and Future (Tracy Morgan), converge upon Karen's reality on a winter's morning. As she awakens on Christmas Day, the neighbor children warmly greet her, and with a newfound sense of empathy, Karen joins their playful revelry outside. The ghosts, having successfully reformed Karen, gather to celebrate their collective triumph, serenading the audience with an uplifting tune, "That Christmas Mornin' Feeling," which extols the virtues of kindness and generosity.

As Present, the affable ghost, basks in the warmth of his mission's success, he confesses a sense of ennui, having dwelled in this realm for over two centuries since his mortal demise. Though retirement beckons, Present remains committed to his vocation, pondering the possibility of a life beyond the confines of his spectral duties ("Present's Lament").

The ghostly quartet convenes once more to deliberate on their next target: the odious Mr. Alteli (PJ Byrne), a hotel manager notorious for his cruel treatment of others. However, Present becomes captivated by Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), a charismatic CEO who addresses an audience with unbridled enthusiasm and conviction, extolling the virtues of genuine Christmas traditions ("Bringing Back Christmas"). Enchanted by Clint's oratory prowess, Present decides to focus on the CEO's rehabilitation, convinced that his unique blend of passion and persuasion could inspire meaningful change.

As the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come converge on Jacob's office, a tense standoff ensues. Present, undeterred by Jacob's reluctance, makes a bold ultimatum: allow him to work with Clint, or he'll take his retirement package and leave the whole operation in disarray. Jacob, initially skeptical of Present's bluff, eventually caves under the pressure, giving the ghosts permission to delve into Clint's troubled past.

Over the course of the next year, the ghosts meticulously research Clint's life, uncovering a wealth of secrets and surprises. They discover that he has a younger brother, Owen (Joe Tippett), who is shouldering the responsibility of caring for their niece Wren (Marlow Barkley) since their older sister Carrie's passing years ago. Clint's philosophy, it seems, is rooted in his conviction that people are fundamentally unchangeable.

As Christmas approaches, Owen and Wren pay a visit to Clint at his workplace, seeking his guidance as Wren prepares to run for student council president. Present observes the scene with keen interest, sensing the complexities beneath Clint's rough exterior. Clint, ever the cynic, advises Wren to sacrifice her academic integrity in order to curry favor with the voters and discredit her opponent, Josh Hubbins (Maximilian Piazza).

Meanwhile, Kimberly Parks (Octavia Spencer), Clint's loyal assistant, grows increasingly troubled by her boss's Machiavellian tactics. When she discovers a revealing TikTok video of Josh complaining about his parents' charity work, she feels torn between fulfilling Clint's request and doing the right thing. Present, meanwhile, becomes smitten with Kimberly's kindness and integrity, inadvertently revealing himself to her in the process.

As Christmas Eve draws near, Clint hosts a raucous party, unaware that the ghosts are preparing for their annual haunt. Jacob, resurrected as his decrepit self, materializes to deliver a haunting warning to Clint, but is cut short by Clint's impatience and curiosity. Bonnie, the ghost of Christmas Present, takes Clint on a journey through his childhood home, where they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. As the night wears on, their mutual attraction culminates in a tender and intimate encounter.

Present's introspective journey delves into Clint's (Clint) turbulent past, tracing the roots of his malevolent nature back to a poignant Christmas flashback from his childhood. Here, we find Clint as a wide-eyed youngster, naively believing that a puppy bowl represents a festive gift from his mother Wendy (Jen Tullock). As the truth gradually unfolds - the open back door allowing the "dog" to escape - Clint's youthful innocence is shattered by the realization that his mother had deceived him. This formative experience would later shape Clint's propensity for self-deception, as he preferred to cling to comforting illusions rather than confront harsh realities.

As Present navigates Clint's adult years, we see the protagonist grappling with the complexities of entrepreneurship and personal relationships. His romance with Nora (Aimee Carrero) is marked by tension and heartache, particularly when Clint's dysfunctional family dynamics come into play. His siblings and mother, Wendy, are already embroiled in a toxic web of resentment and mistrust, which ultimately drives a wedge between Clint and Nora.

The consequences of Clint's actions become starkly apparent as he becomes embroiled in the cutthroat world of politics. Using underhanded tactics to sabotage his opponent, he inadvertently destroys the life of an innocent woman. The fallout from this scandalous behavior results in Clint's downfall, as he is fired and left to pick up the pieces of his shattered reputation.

In a poignant twist, Present revisits Clint's last visit with his sister Carrie (Carrie), who is nearing the end of her life. Despite Clint's best efforts to appear strong, he is ultimately unable to resist the emotional weight of their reunion. As Carrie implores him for one final favor, Clint's present self flees the scene, leaving behind a trail of unresolved emotions and unspoken regrets.

As Present's narrative unfolds, he decides to unveil Clint to the most egregious of the ghosts' past misdeeds - the Unredeemable that had plagued them. Together, they journeyed back in time to an 1800s-era London town, where the veil was lifted to reveal that Present himself was none other than Ebenezer Scrooge from a bygone era. As he strolled through the streets, residents' faces contorted in disdain at his greeting of "good afternoon", which had become tantamount to a verbal middle finger. Clint egged him on to unleash his pent-up frustrations ("Good Afternoon"), and Present's emotions overflowed until Jacob intervened, dispatching Clint back to his apartment while chiding Present for indulging in personal reminiscences.

Clint found himself back in his apartment, surrounded by the festivities of his party. As he wandered through the space, a faint glow drew him to a spot where Present materialized in all his "Christmas Carol" glory. With an air of longing, Present confessed his desire to return to mortal life as part of his retirement package. Then, he offered Clint a glimpse into the lives of those left behind while he was away - the partygoers engaging in backbiting gossip about Clint's character. However, Owen stood up for his brother, and Present even showcased Nora thriving with her family, painting a picture of what could have been had Clint chosen that path. Yet, Clint knew Present harbored feelings for Kimberly and shared a vision of the life he wanted to build with her. Present also revealed Wren gliding across the ice with Owen, mirroring Josh's efforts at helping his parents at the soup kitchen ("The Story of Your Life"). As Josh posted a photo taken by his father to garner votes, Wren responded by sharing an old TikTok, sending students into a frenzy as they turned on Josh, branding him a phony.

As Clint broaches the subject of Josh's predicament, Present seizes the opportunity to transport Clint back to a hospital memory that proves inescapable. With Clint forced to relive the moment when Carrie implored him to watch over Wren while she was away, he is reminded of his earlier deception and the responsibility he dodged by passing it on to Owen, who was more than eager to take up the mantle for their sister's sake. As Present prepares Clint to confront the yet unknown, Jacob intervenes, only to be thwarted by Clint's decision to hold him back and confront his own lingering doubts about redemption. This introspective moment ("Unredeemable") marks a turning point for Present, who ultimately chooses to hang up his magical cloak amidst the watchful eyes of the other realm, where he is met with applause from all corners.

With Present now mortal once more, he reappears in Clint's room and struggles to readjust to life without his extraordinary abilities. Meanwhile, Kimberly welcomes him back into her orbit, and they embark on a stroll that culminates in a tender kiss ("The View From Here Reprise"). In stark contrast, Clint is compelled by Yet-To-Come to witness a vision of Wren's student council triumph, only to have the scene sour as it becomes clear that Josh was mercilessly bullied to the point of despair and eventual suicide, brought on by the cruel repercussions of a TikTok video. Horrified by this outcome, Clint begs the spirit to alter the course of events, but instead is taken on a journey through his own mortality, where he witnesses his former self succumb to a heart attack, alone and unloved. As he stands amidst the gravestones, Present reappears, only to be met with a scathing rebuke from Yet-To-Come for convincing him to retire, prompting him to send Clint hurtling back into his apartment, where reality hits like a ton of bricks.

As Clint (Clint) and Present (Present) converge on their quest to intercept Wren and prevent her from uploading the incriminating TikTok video, Present's introspective musings reveal a lingering sense of uncertainty regarding his decision to retire and settle down with Kimberly. The pair ultimately arrives at the rooftop skating rink, where they catch Wren in the act of preparing to post the compromising footage, but Kimberly intervenes, having previously counseled Wren about the far-reaching consequences of her actions, effectively dissuading her from going through with it. Present, now convinced that Clint has earned redemption for his past transgressions, is left pondering whether some individuals are simply irredeemable. In a poignant moment of crisis, Present contemplates taking drastic measures to confront the afterlife, but Clint intervenes, shielding him from harm and inadvertently triggering a profound shift in the fabric of time.

As time stands still, the other spirits emerge to celebrate Clint's selfless act, acknowledging his heroic sacrifice as the catalyst for his redemption. The scene segues into a joyful musical interlude, with Clint and Present joined by their fellow specters in a festive celebration of Clint's newfound status as an exuberant spirit. Time unfreezes, only for Clint to meet his ultimate fate, striking a poignant chord as he becomes one with the afterlife.

In the aftermath of this transformation, Jacob reveals that Clint's sacrifice must be tempered by acceptance of its consequences, acknowledging the loss of earthly connections and relationships. Carrie's spirit appears, beaming with pride at her little brother's selfless act, guiding him through the realm. The passage of time sees Clint evolve into the Ghost of Christmas Present, forming a bond with Carrie and Bonnie as they navigate the holiday season together.

A few years later, Clint pays a visit to Present and Kimberly, now a married couple with two children who share his ability to perceive the spirit world. Wren's future success in her dream college serves as a testament to the power of redemption and second chances. As Present and the entire cast reprise the poignant "That Christmas Mornin' Feeling," Clint finds himself wrapped in the warm embrace of nostalgia and new beginnings.

Following the credits, a lingering sense of karma is fulfilled as Mr. Alteli's character remains steadfastly unrepentant, prompting the spirits to exact their revenge by subtly manipulating objects around him, ultimately leaving him disoriented and helpless.