Growing up in the 80s, Barbara Robinson’s 1972 children’s book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was a cornerstone of the grade school holiday season repertoire. The cinematic adaptation hitting theaters this Friday, is the first time the beloved classic is hitting the big screen, brought to life by Dallas Jenkins, who’s probably best known for his faith based television series, The Chosen. While it had been decades since I read the book, nostalgia and curiosity lured me in to experience the story that’s surprisingly as charming and as relevant as ever.
For those who might have missed this one growing up, the film is the tale of the feral and free range Herdman children: Imogene, Ralph, Claude, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys – a gang of siblings who terrorize the small town of Emmanuelle. With their parents nowhere to be found, they smoke, swear, steal and bully the other children completely unchecked, by not just the other kids, but the adults who also fear them. After hearing about the unlimited snacks and desserts that could be scored in Sunday school, the whole clan shows up to church one fateful Sabbath, as the church is gearing up for their yearly Christmas pageant. The Herdman children who have a thing for cinema (go figure?), decide to hijack the pageant, claiming all the best roles for themselves assuring them a holiday’s supply of treats.
This Christmas coup d’état not only forces the congregation to reexamine what it is to be good Christians, as they eventually are forced to overcome their prejudice and open their hearts to these troubled kids. But it also allows the Herdman’s to hilariously learn the story of the birth of Christ, before unleashing their interoperation on others. It’s through these intersectional narratives that the kids not only learn the error of their ways, but the town learns the true meaning of Christmas, as you do in these kinds of films. I think Dallas Jenkins really walks a fine line keeping the film just secular enough, while still maintaining the religious subtext embedded without getting too preachy. I mean while it is a Christmas movie in a more traditional sense, it makes sure to keep its themes pretty broad and universal to make sure to reach the largest audience possible, which is part of the film’s message.
This balancing act is wonderfully executed on screen thanks to the delightful Judy Greer who leads the cast of both seasoned veterans (Pete Holmes, Lauren Graham) and fresh young faces, who really manage to bring these characters to life. Dodging the melodrama you’d probably expect in a faith based production, the film leans into its wholesome comedy wholeheartedly, while also hitting those emotional notes to round out the story. Surprisingly it’s young Beatrice Schneider, the eldest Herdman Imogene, who steals the show with her emotional journey to discover just who Mary was, as she becomes fascinated with a painting of her in the church foyer. It’s her attempt to unlock Mary’s journey, through relating her own struggle, that delivers the unexpected heart and soul of the piece.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a new holiday classic, and I don’t say that lightly! It’s a charming new rendition of the original source, that’s here to remind us just what made the original story so special. It does this, while also reminding us in these divisive times, that Christmas, and the holidays are about being sympathetic and inclusive, even if you might not see eye to eye. I think that’s what Dallas Jenkins does perfectly here is craft a film that really feels imbued with that original spirit of the book. From making it a period piece transpiring in a simpler time, to not being afraid to look at the hypocrisy in the the church itself to deliver its two sided story of redemption that is as heartfelt as it is wholesome.
