The best thing I can say about Freeform’s Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas, it’s that it’s not my kind of movie. That’s a damn shame, considering it stars Aisha Dee, who I’ve loved since Sweet/Vicious and continued to love in The Bold Type, and that the main plot of it has to do with, you know, friendship.
But then again, it also has to do with, you know, DEATH, as the title thankfully warned us.
Now, I had my issues with Last Christmas, first and foremost being that I do not want to suffer when I watch Christmas movies. I want happiness, and I want cheese and I want my happily ever after, damn it. Think The Knight Before Christmas, and that’s my perfect holiday movie. But, I will give this movie this: It was never trying to trick us, and though the fact that the main character dies is objectively sad, the movie isn’t really a bummer, and I didn’t find myself crying about the injustice of it all, or anything like that.
However, that doesn’t mean this is one that I’ll be re-watching, either.
Just like Last Christmas did, Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas tries to go deep and heartfelt, and it sticks the landing just as much as it misses completely.
Sure, it was charming at times, and it was definitely refreshing to see a movie about friendship, and especially, one starring two WOC. That being said, why do we only get the sad movies? Or the not-so-sad considering the main character is dead ones? I want cheese and snow and a freaking medieval knight, that’s what I want. That’s what I deserve.
And yeah, Ben was almost prince-worthy, especially after that first date – but, you know, I don’t really make the habit of shipping dead people with, you know, alive people. And though 12-year old me would have really, really appreciated the ending, 30-year-old me isn’t feeling it all that much.
Thirty-year-old me wants happy for my WOC characters, okay? Actual living happily ever after.
Even as I’m criticizing the movie, allow me to take a moment to commend Freeform for their commitment to diversity. It isn’t just this movie, or The Bold Type, or Black-ish and its various spinoffs, or the new Party of Five reboot, it’s that the network has talked the talk and walked the walk when it comes to not just the actors they hire, but the creators as well.
It makes me feel safe, and taken care of, even if, for some reason, I’m not actually enjoying the content.
That part is subjective. Art in general, is. We’re not all going to enjoy the same things, and hopefully some of you actually found this movie the right kind of charming instead of middle ground between that and morbid.
Diversity isn’t subjective, though. Freeform’s commitment isn’t either.
So now, Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas wasn’t my favorite movie, but you best believe I’ll be watching anything and everything Freeform puts out, because at this point, they’ve earned my loyalty and support.
Just …next time, give me some happiness. I want more WOC friendships, some more movies this diverse exploring what it means to leave a legacy – I would just rather they have a conventional happy ending.
Especially at Christmas. It’s like my one rule.
OUR ‘SO BAD IT’S GOOD’ RATING 4/10
REALISM FACTOR: 🎄
DOESN’T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT REALISM FACTOR: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
CHEESE FACTOR: 🎄🎄🎄
ROMANCE FACTOR: 🎄🎄🎄
TROPEY-NESS FACTOR: 🎄🎄🎄
Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas premieres tonight, December 4th at 9/8c on Freeform.