Wondering if Spirited on AppleTV+ is ok for kids? This musical twist on A Christmas Carol is a funny holiday film, but it can get a little crude. Here’s what parents need to know in this Spirited Parents Guide.
Spirited Parents Guide
In this modern twist on A Christmas Carol, Will Ferrell is the Ghost of Christmas Present and selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. Once that person changes, they are redeemed!
But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future. Clint has done some pretty horrible things in his life (I mean he hasn’t murdered anyone), and he’s kind of a turd. He’s labeled as “unredeemable.”
However, Present is not giving up on him, and thinks he may be able to help him. Spirited asks the question, “Do people really change?”
Age Rating: Why is Spirited Rated PG-13?
Spirited is Rated PG-13 for language, thematic elements, and some suggestive material which means some content may not be suitable for kids under 13 years old.
Language in Spirited
There is quite a bit of colorful language in Spirited including a**, sh*t, bi*ch, damn, hell, bastard, di*k, and man piss.
Mature Content: Is Spirited OK for Kids?
There is no sexual content like nudity or passionate kissing, but there is a kiss and some suggestive jokes. A girl jokes that nobody has been up in her beeswax in a long time. A man grabs another’s crotch out of anger.
People give other people the middle finger.
There is talk and a vigil for a child who dies by suicide.
A child must deal with the death of a parent.
A character is hit by a car.
Characters drink alcohol and talk about drinking.
Is Spirited Appropriate for Kids Under 13?
In Apple TV+’s Spirited you can expect some crude jokes, profanity used by some characters and in song, alcohol use, mentions of drugs, and some mature content. To sum it up, Spirited is not kid-friendly for younger kids, but it’s a funny holiday film for older tweens and teens.
There are definitely inappropriate lyrics in some of the songs from Benji Pasek and Justin Paul, but the musical numbers have that Greatest Showman pizazz. They just lack the voices of that cast. The big numbers are flashy and joyful, but sometimes are misplaced in the film.
Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds are a great comedic duo. It’s no Elf, but Ferrell still has that charm to combine the hilarity with the heart. And Ryan Reynolds is typical Ryan Reynolds. You know, the smart aleck you can’t help but love.
Messages of human nature, kindness, and love are great topics to discuss with kids as well as the consequences of our choices. While tonally, Spirited was a little mismatched, there is enough holiday spirit to make this a fun watch for the season!
