Dec 4

Dec 4 Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas

Jess’s first date with Ben was heavenly, but the night came to a crashing end when she died in a car accident. Now, with no idea how to ascend, Jess is left hanging around her old haunts with Ben and her best friend. Can her kindred spirits help her find inner peace on earth…and beyond?

Ghosting-The+Spirit+of+Christmas.jpg — CHRISTMAS CLICHÉS:

Opens w/ a City Scene
Deceased Parent
Ice Skating Scene
Carolers

Our Thoughts

The trailer for Freeform’s “Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas” promised a high-risk, high-reward movie. It stood out among the monotony of “Christmas in [insert state/lodge/etc.]” flicks—a young woman dies after a great blind date and literally “ghosts” her crush.

Could this be how younger generations dip their toes in the Christmas movies genre? Would it be the TikTok of 2019 Xmas premieres?

We’re too old to find value in TikTok but we’re logical enough to know this: No matter your age, this movie starts sweet but quickly straddles the adjectives of “strange” and “WTF?”

Job-hopping Jess (Aisha Dee, cute and bubbly) meets up with artist Ben (Kendrick Sampson, too good-looking to be that thoughtful). Their quickly paced banter leads to hints of a second date…until Jess’s attempts to respond to Ben’s texts lead to a car accident.

Don’t text and drive, kids. Your crush will fall into a depression thinking you ghosted him when you actually died.

Thankfully, Jess isn’t alone in her ghostly state. Her best friend, Kara (Kimiko Glenn, always a delight) can see her and brings her to healers/seers to figure out what’s going on. They learn Jess needs to find her “Big Love” before she can “Ascend.” Enter their search for Ben to rekindle what Jess started.

There are some moments that work for the genre and in general. Ben adores “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the soundtrack includes some modern takes on Christmas classics. And unlike other networks, Freeform has no problem being realistic: Jess and Ben really want to have sex, so they revisit the healer/seer to work through the “Jess is a ghost and can’t touch anything.”

Don’t worry—they figure “it” out.

No surprise by the lack of clichés, but our problems with this movie are rooted in the utter lack of Christmas spirit. That, mixed with the confused plot (an Art Fair and a Tea Contest make quick appearances), make the movie forgettable. And that’s before we got to the last 2 minutes.

Major Spoilers Ahead. Ready?

After Jess “ascends” once she realizes her “Big Love” is actually Kara, one year later, Ben shows up. Why is he in the heavenly bar? Well, he suffered a cardiac embolism, probably from a broken heart, and died, too. Jess appears mildly excited but ditches him right away to visit Kara on Earth.

Huh. Not how one typically ends a classic Christmas tear-jerker.

It’s modern and unique, but that’s all it has going for it. If you need a break from the formulaic saturation, try “Holiday in Handcuffs” or “Christmas Bounty.” No one needs to die to get it on in those flicks.

Rob's Final Take: Not Very Merry
To paraphrase Prof. Dumbledore: “Do not pity the dead. Pity the living and, above all, those of us who had to watch this garbage movie.”

Jess's Final Take: Not Very Merry
A big swing-and-a-miss. But I like where you’re going, Freeform. Just add more “holiday” spirit vs. actual spirits next time.