How many times have you watched the many-and-varied film-and-TV versions of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol? You know, Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, bad dreams, redemption. Well, if you haven’t heard, the story has once again clawed its way out of the grave.
Apple TV+ dropped a teaser trailer Wednesday for its new version, the comedy-musical Spirited set for release in theaters November 11 and on the streaming service November 18.
This time it looks like a contemporary take, with Ghost of Christmas Present Will Ferrell trying to drag corporate-executive-looking Ryan Reynolds into a vision that includes big dance numbers.
Apple TV+ trailer for Spirited puts Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds into yet another version of A Christmas Carol
The YouTube teaser trailer opens with a little tap-dance routine in silhouette. You can tell from the figures and especially the voices that it’s Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. They ham it up a bit among the initial titles screens that read, gradually, “It’s beginning … to look … a lot like … Christmas.”
Then suddenly they’re in a live shot on a Victorian-looking street, marveling at each others’ tap-dancing prowess.
“Tap is new for me,” Reynolds replies to Ferrel’s appreciative comments with shy modesty. “It’s a very expressive medium.”
Previous teasing of the musical
It sets the stage for what looks like might be a buddy-movie version of the classic for these two pals — Reynolds has called Ferrell his comedy idol, and there’s clear chemistry between them — in addition to being a musical that might include actual tap dancing.
Ferrell and Reynolds recently showed up harmonizing on the set of the film during production in Boston. A viral video captured their entry for the “Grace Kelly Challenge” on TikTok. Separately, Reynolds also sported AirPods during a video, poking fun at Apple product placement.
A modern take on the classic — with dance numbers!
After the old-school tap-dance-off, the trailer cuts to present day. Quick cuts show Reynolds in a big city and in a modern office. You see costar Octavia Spencer working alongside him, briefly.
But Ferrell, still looking Dickensian, has come for Reynolds. “I’m your Ghost of Christmas Present,” he intones, and then tries to make the skeptical Reynolds follow him through an ominous doorway.
And much of the emphasis — shown in extremely quick cuts — is on the fact that this is a bonafide musical. Though you only get flashes of them, you see that there will be big-time musical dance numbers in this thing.
Watch the trailer:
Last laugh
At the end of the teaser, an outtake after the Spirited title screen goes for a last laugh:
Ferrell and Reynolds are in a crowded elevator. Ferrell waxes nostalgic about his “first save, there was this little sick kid … what did they call him …?” He struggles to remember the kid’s name. “It was ‘Tiny Tim,'” Reynolds snaps, impatiently. “No,” Ferrell says, “sick kid, one crutch … little Larry?” And as his guesses become more ludicrous, Reynolds loses it.
If you’re up for yet another edition A Christmas Carol this season, this one could be entertaining, at least.
Cast and credits
Besides Ferrell and Reynolds, Octavia Spencer (Truth Be Told on Apple TV+), Sunita Mani (Mr. Robot) and Patrick Page (Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical) also star in the film. Sean Anders and John Morris wrote and directed Spirited.
Apple TV+ is available by subscription for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. Or you can get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. Since its November 2019 launch, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 278 wins and 1,153 award nominations.
