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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is based on a beloved children’s book of the same name. The movie, directed by Dallas Jenkins, brings Barbara Robinson’s 1972 novel to life, illustrating the unruly yet transformative journey of the Herdmans, a group of notorious children who unexpectedly star in their town’s annual Christmas pageant.
The film captures the comedic and heartfelt aspects of the Herdmans’ chaotic participation in the event, which sheds light on the core spirit of Christmas.
Produced by Lionsgate, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever hit theatres across the country on November 8, 2024. This version stays true to the original story while adding the director's own style. As a result, there's a mix of humor, mischief and a deep look at what Christmas is really about.
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The official synopsis of the movie reads:
"Nobody is ready for the mayhem and surprises that ensue when six of the worst youngsters disrupt the town's yearly Christmas performance."
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is based on a novel by Barbara Robinson
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever draws its storyline from Barbara Robinson’s classic children’s book published in 1972.
The book quickly became a classic in American holiday literature. It was praised for how funny and touching it was to show the six famous Herdmans siblings messing up the traditional Christmas pageant.
The Herdmans are known for being rebellious and add a rough edge to the pageant that goes against the conservative views of the people in the town. The adaptation keeps this spirit alive by showing how their chaotic way of doing things changes how everyone in the community understands the Christmas story in the end.
Dallas Jenkins has directed the film with screenwriters Ryan Swanson, Platte Clark and Darian McDaniel, who worked closely to translate Robinson’s work faithfully. Their approach preserves the comedic, family-friendly tone of the novel while adding cinematic layers to the characters’ development and interactions.
The movie captures the curiosity of the Herdmans as they learn about the biblical Christmas story, adding humor and depth to their transformation.
Plot overview
At the beginning of the movie, the Herdmans' trouble in their hometown is shown in a chaotic way. The Herdmans are the "worst kids" in town because they smoke cigars, steal and pick on their friends. They sign up for the Christmas pageant out of the blue when they hear that there will be free snacks.
As the lead characters in the pageant, the Herdmans read the Christmas story for the first time, which shapes how they understand it in their own unique and heartfelt ways. The people in town are surprised and even inspired by their new point of view.
When the normal organizer gets hurt, Grace Bradley steps in to run the pageant. Other parents don't believe that Grace can lead the Herdmans, which is a big part of the story.
At first, she worries that the Herdmans aren't being disciplined, but she soon realizes that the pageant has a big effect on them. In her role, she shows the patience and strength needed to bring about change, even when things look hopeless.
One of the main ideas of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is how kindness and an open mind can change things. Hearing the story of the birth of Jesus, the Herdmans can relate to the problems Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus had to deal with.
The Herdman kids, especially Imogene, feel like that they belong and have a purpose because they have responsibilities. It's clear from how Imogene plays Mary that she wants to be seen as more than just a troublemaker.
There are also some subtle references to racism and classism in the movie. At first, the people in the town don't like the Herdmans because they have a social bias against families that aren't like everyone else's. People in the community are forced to rethink what they think is "good" and "bad" behavior because the Herdmans are in the pageant.
Cast and crew
The talented cast in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever bring the characters to life in a way that's both funny and honest.
Judy Greer plays Grace Bradley, the patient director of the pageant, while Pete Holmes is great as Bob, her supportive husband. Grace Bradley's daughter Beth Bradley is played by Molly Belle Wright. She watches the Herdmans' journey with interest and compassion.
As Lauren Graham is telling the story, it has a warm feel to it. The actors who play the Herdman siblings, including Beatrice Schneider as Imogene, give memorable performances the rebelliousness and vulnerability of their characters.
As an adaptation of Barbara Robinson's novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever offers humor, compassion and Christmas' true meaning. It emphasizes empathy, acceptance and how people can change unexpectedly when given a chance.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is now available in theatres.
