‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ Review: Judy Greer in an Uneven Holiday Flick with an Ecclesiastical Spin

by

As a long-time devotee of heartwarming holiday tales that manage to tug at my heartstrings without being overly saccharine, I found myself both charmed and slightly underwhelmed by Dallas Jenkins’ adaptation of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

In the story titled “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” penned by Dallas Jenkins, a band of mischievous children regularly cause chaos in the peaceful town of Emmanuel, located somewhere in America. The narrator, Lauren Graham, describes these children as the “most notorious in the annals of history.” Their infamous status is due to the antics of Ralph (Mason D. Nelligan), Leroy (Ewan Wood), Claude (Matthew Lamb), Ollie (Essek Moore), Gladys (Kynlee Heiman) and Imogen (Beatrice Schneider), who engage in a series of pranks that vary from mildly disrespectful to extremely destructive.

A nifty montage at the beginning of the holiday feature shows the Herdmans bullying kids and adults with impunity; taking the Lord’s name in vain; smoking cigars; stealing from local businesses and even setting fire to a dilapidated shed. Because of their repugnant behavior, residents of the community hardly believed the Herdmans were “real,” says the narrator. “No one knew why they were that way.” And it appears that few people — including, at times, includes the filmmakers — sincerely want to find out. 

The story “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” originally published in 1972 by Barbara Robinson, is a well-loved American narrative emphasizing the genuine spirit of the holiday season. Drawing from a screenplay penned by Ryan Swanson, Platte Clark, and Darian McDaniel, Jenkins (renowned for “The Chosen,” a historical drama focusing on Jesus’ life) constructs a tale that fluctuates unevenly between tender moments and an almost detached emotional tone.

The movie feels vibrant when it portrays the town’s minor disputes or the bond between Beth (Molly Belle Wright, acting as a younger version of Graham’s narrator) and her mother, Grace (Judy Greer). However, it loses some energy when it focuses on the Herdmans, who start to seem more like symbols for the film’s religious themes rather than well-rounded characters.

The story begins when Mariam Bernstein, the director of Emmanuel’s annual Christmas pageant, gets hurt and has to pass control of this year’s production to Grace, who isn’t well-regarded by other church moms. The movie doesn’t delve into the complexities of their relationships, but there are instances that mirror the awkward scenes featuring Rachel McAdams’ character Barbara among the PTA mothers in Kelly Fremon Craig’s adaptation of Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Like Barbara, Grace aims to demonstrate her reliability to this skeptical group and preserve the cherished tradition. Her bond with her daughter mirrors that of Barbara and Margaret, providing another heartwarming portrayal of a strong mother-daughter relationship.

This year’s pageant, being the town’s 75th anniversary and a crucial fundraising event, is under immense pressure. When the Herdmans, known for their mischievous behavior, forcefully take the lead roles, Grace feels anxious. She ponders with her husband Bob (Pete Holmes) and Beth on how to handle these unruly children. However, they don’t have to think long before discovering the solution. The tale of Jesus proves to be more than sufficient. The Herdmans, who often find their parents away at work, are unfamiliar with church. As a sweet temptation, they are invited to Sunday school with the promise of free food. Once there, these six children, initially reluctant, soon become captivated by the story of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus.

It’s only natural that they would do so, as the Herdmans delve into the Biblical story, they find parallels between their own lives and the Holy Family. Just like a group of library-going kids engrossed in books, poring over each word, they see themselves reflected on the pages. This highlights the power that stories have on young minds, how they can provide a window into entire new worlds for readers.

Imogen finds inspiration from Mary’s narrative, particularly as she secretly yearns to be perceived as delicate and lovely like Alice, the popular girl (Lorelei Olivia Mote). However, she learns that strength embodies its own unique form of beauty. Schneider’s portrayal of the rebellious preteen, whose rugged exterior conceals a tender and genuine heart, aids in accepting Imogen’s change. Yet, it also exposes an unsettling feeling of unfinished business when discussing the Herdmans’ tale. In essence, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever doesn’t fully capture its most profound moments due to Imogen and her siblings persistently keeping their distance.

As a gamer, I’d say: In “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Jenkins gives us a peek into the lives of these rowdy kids, but I wish there was more depth – like understanding why their parents aren’t around or what their typical days look like. This additional detail could have highlighted how the townspeople’s prejudice against them is rooted in classism, and how they reject what they claim to value. Most importantly, delving deeper into the Herdmans would have driven home Jenkins’ message that the real spirit of Christmas is all about community.

Read More

2024-11-08 01:25