Director: Dallas Jenkins
Writers: Platte F. Clark, Darin McDaniel, Ryan Swanson
Stars: Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez
Synopsis: Nobody is ready for the mayhem and surprises that ensue when six of the worst youngsters disrupt the town’s yearly Christmas performance.
On the surface, the new holiday film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever may seem like a family drivel that stars experiencing a box-office dry spell would take on to keep their careers afloat. However, when an adult delivers a holiday ham, everything begins understated and turns touching without using cheap theatrics. The scene is so well-written that it sneaks up on you.
I wouldn’t call this the genius behind The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The real strength may lie in the fact that this second adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s bestselling novel, directed by Dallas Jenkins, uses his penchant for religion as a backdrop to expose the judgmental hypocrisy of a flock that has lost its way. Additionally, Jenkins shows respect for past holiday comedy classics, which is evident throughout the film in nods to A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Home Alone.
The story follows the Bradley family, who take on the task of reining in and reaching out a helping hand to the Herdman family—a group of six dirty, rude, mean, rowdy, and even thieving siblings who have been terrorizing the community for years. Known as the worst kids in the world, they begin to show interest in community activities, particularly the town’s premiere event of the year, the local holiday church pageant, but only for the free, sugary treats.
Grace (Judy Greer) takes on the responsibility of pageant director after Mrs. Armstrong (Mariam Bernstein), who rules with an iron fist, drops out due to an injury. Grace accepts the role partly because the snobby church elite believe she cannot handle it. However, she soon realizes she may have taken on the role for a greater purpose, as the Herdman children—led by Imogene (Beatrice Scheider)—bully their way into the play’s most significant roles.
Grace’s husband, Bob (Pete Holmes), initially seems like the type of husband who might be annoyed that his wife has taken on such a task without having dinner ready at the usual time. However, he turns out to have the same heart of gold as his wife, paying particular attention to the Herdman clan and lending a helping hand. They have two children: their youngest, Charlie (Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez), and Beth (Molly Belle Wright); with the latter taking on the responsibility of acclimating the Herdman kids to the pageant experience.
Jenkins, best known as the creator and showrunner of the historical faith-based series The Chosen (there was a free preview of the upcoming season during early screenings this past weekend), does a remarkable job using faith-based community activities as a backdrop to enhance themes of acceptance, love, compassion, forgiveness, serving others, humility, and gratitude. However, you never once feel that the film tries to shove its religious message down the viewer’s throat.
The setting in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is familiar to anyone who has lived in a middle-class, predominantly white suburb—something I was all too familiar with in an era when the church was much more prevalent in family life than it is today. Anytime any of the children act up, religious leaders like the reverend, his wife, or the Bradley family take the time to reach these kids rather than demonize them, despite the pressure from others who choose to do so. It’s a difficult battle against those pressures.
While the movie has excellent messaging for a family film, it also effectively mixes heartwarming moments and laughs. In between, there are adorable performances from Wright as Beth and Lorelei Olivia Mote as Beth’s friend, Alice. Then there’s Kynlee Heiman, who steals every scene she’s in. And, of course, Beatrice Scheider, who gives her character, Imogene, well-rounded characteristics in what is arguably the most challenging role in the film—she needs to be funny, abrasive, and deliver accurate, poignant moments that resonate.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has flaws but has so much genuine heart that it’s hard not to get lost in it. With excellent narration from Lauren Graham and wonderful supporting performances from Greer and Holmes, this winning film is well worth watching this holiday season.
You can watch the new film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever only in theaters on November 8th!
