The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024): Review and Summary
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is a tear-inducing movie that reminds us that it really only takes one person, giving grace and kindness, to change the hearts of many.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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| Film Length | 1 Hour 39 Minutes |
| Release Date | November 8, 2024 |
| Advisory Rating | Rated PG |
| Initially Available On/Via | Theatrical |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Youth, Holiday, Religious |
| Distributor | Lionsgate |
| Director | Dallas Jenkins |
| Writer | Ryan Swanson, Darin McDaniel, Platte F. Clark |
| Based On Work By | Barbara Robinson |
| Character Name | Actor |
| Grace | Judy Greer |
| Imogene | Beatrice Schneider |
Plot Summary
In the town of Emmanuel, which is as religious as it sounds, the Christmas Pageant at the church has been an annual tradition for over 70 years, and with a major anniversary, people from far and wide are coming. This doesn’t seem like a big issue, for one woman has been directing it for years, if not decades, and has everything down pat. However, Grace takes up the challenge when that woman breaks her legs, mainly because the other mothers didn’t think she could do more than bring store-bought cookies.
But, what Grace didn’t know she’d have to contend with is the Herdman family. They are the kids from the wrong side of the tracks whose mother is working to keep a roof over their heads, so the head of the family is Imogene, the oldest girl among them. Between hearing about free food, the family’s general love for movies, and Imogene’s desire to be someone else, she bullies everyone into backing away from major parts and pushes her siblings to take them in an act to support her.
Throughout the movie, the Herdmans act slightly uncouth, especially in a church, but show genuine interest in what’s happening. Their take on the story of Jesus’ birth becomes “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
Character Descriptions
Grace
Grace is a homemaker, raising two kids with her husband, who her peers grossly underestimate. Granted, is she the best cook? May not be. Also, are her kids always well put together when they go outside? No. However, they know they are loved, they are fed daily, and their clothes are clean. She isn’t perfect, but she makes an effort, and that is perhaps one of the reasons why, despite most of the middle-class families looking down on her, they allow her to take over directing the annual Christmas Pageant.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Three Months.”
Imogene
Imogene is the leader of the Herdman kids, and it seems she has been the maternal figure to some, but the overall leader. Mind you, neither she nor her siblings talk badly about her absent mom, though they acknowledge she isn’t around. However, when not fighting, bullying to survive, or pulling pranks, they all love to see movies, and despite how rambunctious they all are, if they are stimulated, they will sit, be mindful, and even the type of inquisitive that shows a greater intelligence than given credit for.
Other Noteworthy Information
Where To Watch This:- Movie Contains: Cursing, Suggestive Language, Derogatory Language, Smoking
- The distributor is also known for “Running On Empty.”
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing) – Recommended
Audience
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” does aim towards a faith audience, but not those who are very conservative regarding family movies. Between the Herdmans and how many of the church are depicted, it doesn’t always show Christians in a positive light. However, it does show there are some who truly hold their faith to be welcoming and understanding of others, even if they don’t have the same lifestyle as they do.
Highlights
An Honest Depiction Of A Church Community
Let me begin by saying not all churches and communities with the church as the center of it all have people acting as bad as many of the families Grace has to contend with. However, I appreciate a movie that easily will get pigeonholed as a faith movie, specifically focusing on the Christian faith, not pretending like everyone is welcoming, kind, and angelic. Many don’t follow the book they believe in and, as noted in the movie “Heretic,” use the bible for power and to push their opinion as the will of God.
But, all that aside, while the would-be villains all were very much geared towards being naughty or comically mean adults, I do think by “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” not trying to make everyone perfect and good, but still capable of evolving, there was a balance between a positive depiction of Christians, while acknowledging the many who tarnish the faith.
The Herdmans
What I loved most about the Herdmans was that they weren’t bad as much as they were ignorant, poor, and lacked stimulation. They had no choice but to make games that often included combat to entertain themselves. Imogene had to be strong, a bit of a bully, and more to be the leader, keep her siblings alive, and raise them. Now, does this excuse her taking things or her siblings? No. But you get it.
Then, when you see them in church, it reminds me of that quote from Big Fish, which we often quote when it comes to misunderstood characters:
[…] Most things you consider evil or wicked are simply lonely and lacking in social niceties.
Big Fish
The Herdmans only act as they do because they are isolated. Yet, when Imogene integrates them in for the pageant, and Grace is willing to engage with them, including all their questions, we see them chill out. Heck, when Grace’s daughter is tasked with helping them research what happened surrounding Jesus’ birth, they read voraciously and prove that, for many, it’s not that they are bad or incapable, the problem is that most aren’t willing to make an effort because that would require them to break with routine. Often, those in power, especially in systems like school or society as a whole, unless shamed or coerced into doing so, would rather a minority suffer than sacrifice something as small as time and a bit of effort.
It Will Make You Cry
You may not think a movie about a Christmas Pageant, focusing on an overwhelmed mom, her slightly pessimistic daughter, and a community against these outsiders being part of their pristine play may not get you to cry, but it will. You will cry between Beatrice Schneider’s performance and the writing of Platte F. Clark, Darin McDaniel, and Ryan Swanson.
To get into specifics, it is when you realize that Imogene and the rest would like to be part of Emmanuel’s community, but have been rejected, that will get you emotional. It is Imogene wanting to prove she can be lovely, demure, and cutesy (not those specific words, but you get what I mean) that can get to you, and then you understanding how much this truly means to everyone in Imogene’s family, vs. Imogene just dragging her siblings along since she has to watch them, that might be when the tears flow.
For truly, what they do in the play makes all the questions, the hijinks, and their deviating from the dull script they were given ultimately make sense. It reminds you of the emotional and daunting experience Mary and Joseph went through and how necessary it is to have a supportive community. Something that seemingly got lost over the decades of doing the same thing, focused on routine and the superficial than on feeling.
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