My favorite Christmas movie, without question, is Spirited. Yes, that wild, musical rollercoaster where Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell sing, dance, and somehow make redemption look like a Broadway show with sequins and moral growth. But there’s one part—one glorious, chaotic, pure genius part—that lives rent-free in my head every single day: the song “Good Afternoon.”
If you’ve seen it, you know exactly where I’m going with this. If you haven’t—oh, you’re missing out. “Good afternoon” is this delightfully old-fashioned insult in the movie’s world, one that’s shouted with the sort of fake politeness that could power an entire HR seminar on tone.
And here’s the thing: on particularly bad days, when the network at work breaks, or when someone responds to my “Good morning” email at 4 p.m. with “Per my last email…” energy, I think about that song.
You know the one—the cheery, theatrical number that’s basically the musical version of a polite middle finger.
So there I am, in the middle of a busy, slightly stressful day, surrounded by people who’ve clearly forgotten that Christmas spirit is not optional, and I just… smile. Because in my head, Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds are waltzing across cobblestone streets, belting out “GOOD AFTERNOON!” to everyone who’s ever needed a joyful attitude adjustment.
Now, I don’t actually say it out loud. (Well, not most of the time. I still have a job, after all.) But inside? Oh, inside I am living my best Spirited life.
Picture it: a coworker sighs dramatically because the printer jammed for the seventh time. “Good afternoon!” I think.
Someone sends an email that could curdle eggnog with its tone? “Good afternoon!”
A person cuts in line at Target on December 23rd with seventeen items and no shame? “GOOD. AFTERNOON!”
It’s magic, really. The words themselves are harmless. It’s all about the delivery—the imaginary flourish of a top hat, the twinkle of mischief in your eyes, the internal jazz hands of sarcasm wrapped in seasonal cheer.
See, the beauty of this little phrase is that it’s impossible to stay mad when you’re mentally singing it in full musical-theater glory. You can’t think about Spirited and also stew in negativity. The two can’t coexist. Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds simply won’t allow it.
Honestly, I think we could all use a little more “Good Afternoon” energy in the world. Imagine the possibilities! Political debates? Good afternoon! Family arguments about who burned the rolls? Good afternoon! That one person who leaves their shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot like it’s a performance art piece? You guessed it—GOOD AFTERNOON!
It’s therapeutic, really. Because the world can be ridiculous, people can be grumpy, and life can feel like a never-ending to-do list—but laughter is still the best rebellion.
And maybe that’s what I love most about Spirited. Beneath all the silliness and sparkle, it reminds us that joy is a choice. You can’t always fix the cranky people, or the chaos, or the printer—but you can choose how you respond. And sometimes, the best response is to smile, toss a mental top hat into the air, and serenade the moment in your mind.
So if you ever see me walking through the halls at work with that suspicious little grin—the one that says I’m holding back a laugh—you’ll know what’s happening. Someone’s been particularly difficult, and in my head, a full choir has broken out in festive song.
I’ll nod politely, maybe even say it under my breath just for me:
“Good afternoon.” 🎩
And just like that, the world feels lighter, my spirit feels brighter, and somewhere, deep inside my slightly snarky but still cheerful heart, I can almost hear Ryan Reynolds harmonizing in approval.
Now that’s the kind of Christmas spirit that gets you through the day.
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