The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
★ ★ ★
This movie has a lot of heart, and anyone who has ever been a part of a Christmas pageant will likely relate to the story in at least some way. There are some really great moments where faith and acceptance triumph, but there are cringy moments that seem out of step with reality. In that regard, the story is a bit of a mess.
It’s the 75th year for the town Christmas pageant, and expectations are so high, it’s highlighted on the local news. Everything is on track until the pageant’s long-standing director, Mrs. Armstrong (Mariam Bernstein) injures herself and is no longer able to direct it. Mrs. Armstrong is a big deal in the church – she knows it and all the church moms know to fear her. She wields her power ruthlessly.
Pete Holms as Bob, Molly Belle Wright as Beth and Judy Greer as Grace
© 2024 Lionsgate
No one wants the pressure of filling Mrs. Armstrong’s shoes, but Grace (Judy Greer), who has never directed a pageant, or any kind of production, steps up. Instead of church support, she’s met with sneering “this-better-be-good” attitudes from the church ladies. Many of them seem keen to see her fail.
The town troublemakers, the Herdmans, find their way into church when Grace’s son Charlie (Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez) tells them about church snacks and jokes that they’ll likely erupt in a poof of smoke if they set foot in the building.
The Herdmans ready their snowballs
© 2024 Lionsgate
To everyone’s surprise, the Herdman kids, led by eldest daughter Imogene (Beatrice Schneide), show up for Sunday service. The church is anything but welcoming to the Herdmans, and attitudes toward them don’t improve when they bully themselves into the Christmas pageant’s lead roles.
Grace chooses to let the Herdmans keep their roles, against the wishes of Mrs. Armstrong and the church ladies. Almost no one believes Grace can pull off a good Christmas pageant, and she gets more opposition than support from the congregation. Her husband Bob (Pete Holmes) is the stereotypical dopey comedy dad and generally offers more wisecracks than wisdom.
Grace’s daughter Beth (Molly Belle Wright) might be her biggest supporter and believes in her as the film progresses.
Judy Greer as Grace and Beatrice Schneider as Imogene
© 2024 Lionsgate
What kept me from really enjoying this film more was the abysmal behavior of the congregation. Very few members of this particular church are friendly, unless you’re a part of their closed social circle. If I were in this congregation, I’d be looking for a more welcoming church home. The congregants are more awful than the Herdmans; it makes for a confused narrative.
Still, the script does find its footing in the end and manages to pull off a heartwarming conclusion. That’s what saves this film and makes it worth recommending.
Running Time: 1h 39m
Directed by: Dallas Jenkins
Written by: Ryan Swanson, Platte F. Clark, Darin McDaniel
Starring: Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, Lauren Graham, Beatrice Shneider
Kids & Family, Holiday, Comedy
