Nothing says “Christmas movie” more than a feel-good story and that’s exactly what The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is.
An adaptation of the classic Barbara Robinson novel, it can be a tall order making a Christmas movie based on a beloved novel, but director Dallas Jenkins and crew nailed it.
The story revolves around the small town of Emmanuel and a family of six sibling children named The Herdmans (Imogene, Ralph, Claude, Leroy, Ollie and Gladys), who terrorize everyone; they set fires, steal, smoke cigars, vandalize and bully everyone.
The town church’s annual Christmas pageant is the most revered annual tradition, but entering its 75th anniversary, longtime pageant Director Mrs. Armstrong breaks both of her legs in a nasty fall at home, leaving the Director role empty.
This prompts Grace Bradley- a nice, homely housewife and mother in the church volunteers to run the pageant in Mrs. Armstrong’s absence, much to the shock and fury of the rest of the women in the church, who make sure to call Mrs. Armstrong with every bit of gossip and to report every little mistake Grace makes at the helm.
When the Herdmans hear about free food and snacks at church, they show up and decide to enter the pageant, intimidating the other kids out of joining the cast in the important roles and completely take over the pageant.
Despite pressure from the church and her own children who are also in the pageant, Grace refuses to remove the Herdmans from the pageant, which is getting television and newspaper attention this year due to the 75th anniversary.
The church people try everything they can to get the Herdmans out of the pageant, but Grace is determined to show the church- and the Herdmans- that there’s a better way to treat others and to remind everyone about the true meaning of Christmas.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a great narrative on how anyone can change, no matter how horrible they are, or how judgmental they are. The movie shows that horrible people can change and close-minded people can change their views and that there are good people inside of everyone.
It’s a cute movie with a strong story and a fun take on the Christmas movie tradition. It’s a movie designed for the family and is a wholesome movie that could easily become an annual Christmas classic.
Rating: B+
-Reggie Edwards