THE STORY – The Herdmans are six siblings who have a reputation for being the worst kids in the world. However, when they take over the local church pageant during the holidays, they just might teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.
THE CAST – Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, Lauren Graham, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez, Beatrice Schneider & Kynlee Heiman
THE CREW – Dallas Jenkins (Director), Ryan Swanson, Platte Clark & Darin McDaniel (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 98 minutes
The commercialization of Christmas knows no bounds: Each year, you have to get a new tree, one-up all the gifts you bought last year, and spend however much to get a new photo with Santa. Even Hollywood has cashed in, releasing new holiday movies by the dozen every year, each one glamorizing the season even more with stories about love and the true meaning of Christmas. With the incessant capitalization of the holiday season, it seems that many have lost sight of what that day actually means. But have no fear, faith-based director Dallas Jenkins is here to remind all the faithful and sinners with his Christmas dramedy, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Evoking shades of “A Christmas Story” with its nostalgic retelling, Jenkins’ adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s novel leans heavily into religious themes, essentially taking everyone to church for 98 minutes, but is filled with cute and amusing kids to lighten the mood. It may not be the best Christmas movie ever, but “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is certainly one that will delight those looking for a heartwarming story about acceptance and kindness.
Narrated by the adult Beth (Lauren Graham), she recalls one of the most interesting lead-up to Christmas from her childhood. “The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world,” she boldly exclaims, as we see Beth (a wide-eyed Molly Belle Wright) and the rest of her friends being picked on by the young misfit Herdmans, led by eldest sister Imogen (Beatrice Schneider). These kids are the runt of the town, and every child and adult quake in their presence as the siblings bully everyone for snacks or their prized possessions.
Aside from the town’s lukewarm feelings toward the Herdmans, the only other thing they can get behind is the annual Christmas pageant. Beth’s mother, aptly named Grace (Judy Greer, in a more muted performance), agrees to take over the big 75th-anniversary event, and that means things have to go absolutely perfectly. Unfortunately for her, that becomes an impossible task once the Herdmans infiltrate the church (because they can get free snacks there) and decide to participate. The tough and brash Imogen wants to play Mary, and the rest of her siblings take on important roles as well, even though they don’t know the story of the Nativity.
One would think people in this heavily Christian town would be more accepting of the Herdmans, especially since their parents are nowhere to be found (that should raise some flags, right?). But all they can see is chaos around Imogen and her siblings, deciding it’s better to leave them in the dust. But Grace is determined to bring a new type of pageant to this stuffy old town, one that doesn’t require the same sassy little girl playing Mary for the third year in a row and one that promotes the type of kindness and love found in the Bible. Greer, known for her great comedic supporting roles, takes on a stoic, much more warm character than we’ve seen in the past, which is a welcome presence here as the Herdman kids need some ounce of kindness shown to them. Her husband, Bob (Pete Holmes), also lends a helping hand by delivering food to the family. Holmes, also a comedian, gets some witty lines here and there but largely takes a step back in the film, allowing Greer and the kids to get the spotlight.
Grace’s efforts with the pageant leads to some very unfortunate and silly moments, bringing much-needed light-heartedness and fun to this story. Seeing all the Herdmans cause so much ruckus and assert themselves in such a sacred tradition is a hoot to watch. In particular, youngest sister Gladys (Kynlee Heiman) is a standout with her missing front teeth, messy red hair, and high-pitched shriek. She, cheekily, is the best choice to play an angel in the play, and she makes her presence known every chance she gets. But as we spend more time with these children, particularly Imogen, we can sense the softness underneath their tough skin. She’s taken by the idea of being able to act and play a new person, especially someone so beloved as Mary, giving her a chance to escape the difficulties she faces in her day-to-day life. Even though Schneider is still so young, she takes on her role with poise.
As expected with a faith-based director, Jenkins hones in on the religious aspects of the holiday – if you haven’t read about the birth of Jesus in a while, you’ll get a lesson with this film. However, Jenkins also seems open to questioning Christianity and calling out the flaws he sees among those most faithful. The Herdman kids dissect the Nativity story and are puzzled by its many strange details – and they make some good points. There’s also so much hypocrisy among the town’s adults in the ways that they treat the Herdmans, and hopefully, it serves as a reminder to viewers to reconsider the relationships they have in their lives. As the final pageant performance unfolds, it’s a little cheesy for its own good, but it does its job to fill viewers with warmth, especially in trying times.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is sure to be one of several new holiday movies coming out this year, but it’s likely to be one of few that will tug at the heartstrings and focus on something more than just over-spending on gifts. With a sweet message of kindness and a fun cast of spunky kids, Jenkins’ film will put viewers in the holly jolly spirit – and maybe even remind them to go to church if they haven’t in a while.
