THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER movie poster | ©2024 Lionsgate

Rating: PG
Stars: Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, Beatrice Schneider, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez, Matthew Lamb, Essek Moore, Kirk B.R. Woller, Ewan Mathys Wood, Mason Nelligan, Kynlee Heiman, Lauren Graham
Writers: Ryan Swanson and Platte F. Clark & Darin McDaniel, based on the novel by Barbara Robinson
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Distributor: Lionsgate
Release Date: November 8, 2024

“The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.” So begins THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, based on Barbara Robinson’s 1971 book, which was previously adapted as a 1983 telefilm.

Narrated by the adult Beth (Lauren Graham), THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER is set in the small town of Emmanuel, in what looks like the ‘50s or ‘60s (the year is never specified).

Beth (Molly Belle Wright), her brother Charlie (Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez) and everyone else in their elementary school, including teachers and staff, are terrified of the Herdmans. These unsupervised kids (Dad skipped town, Mom is never there) bully, steal, start fires, and are generally hooligans. It’s something of a wonder they show up for class at all.

And, as Beth observes, “They smoked cigars. Even the girls.” The last part of this line gives us an indication of the film’s general understanding of social mores. Everybody except the Herdmans seems to attend the town church and its Sunday school.

With the holidays, it’s almost time for the church’s annual Christmas pageant. This will be the seventy-fifth. Beth laments its sameness.

But when the pageant’s usual unimaginative director Mrs. Armstrong (Mariam Bernstein, no relation) suffers an injury, Beth and Charlie’s mom Grace (Judy Greer) volunteers to step up and take her place. This is mainly in reaction to being disrespected by the other church moms.

Still, once Grace commits to directing the pageant, she is determined to make it, well, that’s the film’s title. She has the unconditional, if slightly bewildered, support of loyal husband Bob (Pete Holmes).

The Herdmans learn that they can get free food after Sunday school, they head to the church, where they hear about the pageant. Being non-churchgoers, they don’t know the actual Christmas story, i.e., about the birth of Jesus. The children are surprisingly interested when Grace reads it to them from the Bible.

In fact, eldest Herdman child, ringleader Imogene (Beatrice Schneider), is so fascinated that she decides she wants to play Mary in the pageant, and insists that her brothers and little sister play roles as well. Most of the church is scandalized by the presence of these delinquents, but Grace sees an opportunity to help some youngsters who really need it.

Directed by Dallas Jenkins from a screenplay by Ryan Swanson and Platte F. Clark & Darin McDaniel, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER is so wholesome that Imogene saying “My God” is interpreted as swearing (taking the Lord’s name in vain), but it manages to avoid being sanctimonious. The tone is a somewhat broad, yet also kind and playful.

Despite how they are viewed by the community, the Herdmans will strike most viewers as more mischievous than actual menaces. Given what we see of their living situation, a more realistic treatment would likely make them more dangerous. But THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER keeps their mayhem PG-level mild.

The film looks and plays not only like a period piece, but something that was actually made in the era of, say, A CHRISTMAS STORY. The production design by Jean-Andre Carriere has a cheerful old-fashioned verisimilitude, with the subdued hues and budget furniture that defined a certain time and place.

Greer is extremely good, and Schneider develops enough power as the film proceeds to make her journey touching. The pageant itself is surprisingly funny, and the theological point being made is thoughtful and nuanced, whatever the viewer’s belief system.

While secular audiences aren’t specifically excluded here, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER seems aimed at faithful families. As such, it won’t appeal to everyone, but it succeeds at what its makers seem to want to achieve.

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