It felt like “Christmas in July” when I was offered an opportunity to view this forthcoming holiday film. It was (and still is) hot for the season here in Texas, but viewing the film left me in better spirits. I have not read the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson that this film is based on, but I might do so before the holidays. I am curious about how the six Herdman children are described in the book as the six child actors who portray the characters in the novel and are excellent in their roles. They truly show the audience what their daily reality has led them to be to this date.
As described in the release received, “The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully…and now they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant.” The screenplay is by Ryan Swanson, Platte F. Clark, and Darin McDaniel, and the adaptation is directed by Dallas Jenkins (“The Chosen” TV series). The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant.
The pageant has been an annual event in the city for decades, but the lifelong director cannot continue this year. At a church meeting, a volunteer raises her hand to take on the task of directing the event. Grace (Judy Greer) is directing the performance for the very first time; she and her daughter Beth (Molly Belle Wright) and husband Bob (Pete Holmes) are overwhelmed. This movie tells a great story about Grace and her family, as it is about the children the town prefers to kick out. Beth knows the children from school but soon learns more as she sees how the other adults behave and learns about the children and their home lives. Wait until you see how the play’s cast unwittingly teaches a community a thing or two.
The movie features Lauren Graham as the narrator, Vanessa Benavente (“The Chosen”), Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie, and Beatrice Schneider as Imogene, among many others.
You may want to place this family drama on your calendar, as it has dramatic scenes, but don’t be surprised when you see scenes that will have you chuckling or giggling in your theater seat. There are more than a few times the writers throw in a few gems, just as life is – sometimes emotional, and other times you want to laugh out loud at how things go. Sometimes, it is good to change things with a new perspective, especially when someone has dominated how the play is done for too long.
Produced by: Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin, Darin McDaniel, Chet Thomas, Daryl Lefever
Official Site: https://bestchristmaspageantever.movie/
Rating: PG for thematic material and brief underage smoking
The film opens in theaters on Friday, November 8th, 2024.
Source: Lionsgate