Last Updated on November 5, 2024 by
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a 2024 adventure, Comedy, Romance, and Drama Movie directed by Dallas Jenkins, and written by Platte Clark, Darin McDaniel, and Ryan Swanson. The film stars Judy Greer, Lauren Graham, and Pete Holmes with a runtime of 1 hour 39 minutes, theatre released on November 08, 2024.
Have you ever thought about the fact that the “worst kids in town” can teach everybody how to pave the way to the true Christmas spirit? The Best Christmas Pageant Ever sets sail into the realm of this warm-wrapped Christmas concept as funny and as jolly as snow. This movie is not just about Christmas celebrations; it is about going beyond prejudices, giving a second chance, and extending a hand to help those in need.
The plot revolves around Grace, a mother who finds herself accidentally agreeing to become the director of the local church’s Christmas play. She wants to make it a holiday show that her family and the entire town will cherish. However, when Grace and the entertainers prepare more elevated performances to come onto the stage, the Herdman kids who are known as the heartbreakers of the town disrupt the auditions. These six siblings are notorious for petty theft, fabrication of the truth, and causing as much trouble as possible in their wake. People cannot believe it when not only they join the pageant but also, manage to get all the significant parts and take over the show! At first, the members of the town are horrified by their actions and influence, and many people pressure Grace to remove the Herdmans from the show. Grace just takes a chance and invests in them because she is thinking that if there is anything that will help them realize the essence of Christmas it would be that.
What one witnesses is a comedy intertwined with elements of drama and feelings that most can relate to. There are numerous comedic scenes where Grace struggles to keep the Herdmans in check about Christmas, including when they confuse frankincense for something that would be desired or their hilarious misunderstanding of the characters they are portraying. That is why, alongside laughter, the given movie explores the issues of tolerance, kindness, and perseverance. At its core, this story is about Grace’s desire to not judge a book by its cover and to help the Herdmans change for the better.
Judy Greer does a good job as Grace by showing both comedy and heavy emotions in the film. In the role of her kind but slightly doubtful husband Bob there is another impressive comedian and actor – Pete Holmes. The humor is present in every scene with Holmes and in my opinion, Moore does a very good job of making the character enjoyable to watch on screen. However, it is the cast portraying the Herdman kids provoking a stormer and standing out as the theatre’s most impressive. Each one has its personality, thus, making the group like The Loud House or Home Alone. This wild and sometimes destructive creativeness adds an element of youthful energy and comedy to the film which makes it appealing as a light and slightly cheeky family movie.
While the main setting is a church Christmas program, the film is not explicitly religious and is more a story of forgiveness, compassion, and genuine acceptance. I would also like to stress that there is nothing too philosophical about The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and the messages are pretty simple and basic, which eliminates any possibility of the text being too heavy-handed. Yes, there are some hints at the Christmas story, but they are quite organic to the plot and do not dominate in the film. The heart of the movie is simple: treat others gently and patiently, and even the naughtiest of students will have something good to impart.
As a parent, one cannot help but be touched by the remarkable tolerance and understanding Grace shows to the Herdmans. She believes in them beyond their ratings and offers them a chance to thrive and be valued for their worth. Parents will easily identify with Grace’s struggles especially when caring for such difficult children. The last scene where she wants to be the one to lead the Herdmans also shows the idea that everyone needs a second chance in life despite their actions.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a lovable film that runs approximately ninety-one minutes, which makes it just right for a family movie night. At the same time, it’s not too long to capture the interest of young children and isn’t too childish or cheesy for teenagers and older viewers to become fans of as well. It maintains its comedy timing and has tender parts while overall making it an entertaining watch during the holiday period.
Frankly speaking, this movie is a lot like the Home Alone and Elf movies, which makes it a perfect choice for a holiday movie weekend. From the humorous twist to the familial feel and the inspirational message that stays with you, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a splendid start to the holiday season. It is recommended for anyone seeking a Christmas-themed story without the gloom and bitterness that may overshadow the holiday spirit. Well, grab the family, have some spiced-up hot chocolate, and let everyone prepare to be entertained by a movie that is full of joy, comedy, and, yes, even a few moments that may bring a tear to your eye.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2024 Parents Guide
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is rated PG by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for thematic material and brief underage smoking.
Language: The Herdman kids sometimes call each other by various nicknames that are not very nice and they also make fun of other children. These are not long lasting and not very harsh but they can lead to discussions about how words can be used to harm even when one is joking. Thus, parents might want to remind children of the importance of respecting other people, which the film promotes. This movie does not contain any abusive language, rude words, or behaviors, and thus it is suitable for all ages of audiences.
Violence and Mischief: The Herdman children are involved in numerous comedic pranks such as bullying an obese boy, taking candies without paying, and mischievously creating havoc in the town and during the rehearsals of the pageant. Though these scenes are funny and have no harm intended, the naughty demeanor of the Herdmans might be a concern for youngsters who can imitate such behavior. The parents could explain why such conduct is prohibited and how the Herdmans were able to remedy their ways. Some of the scenes depict the Herdman kids as bullies, proactively shoving or wrestling. This sort of play fighting is depicted in a comedic manner, with no injuries or any other negative repercussions depicted. Though this scene is quite humorous, it is probably useful for children to be reminded that fights in real life can result in physical injury.
Sexual Content: No Sexual Content
Substance/Drug Use: No substance Used, Highly Recommended for kids
